MIAMI — When a team only has $3 million to spend, it doesn't exactly make a quick strike in free agency.
OK, so the Miami Heat were able to do that before last season, when Shane Battier quickly agreed to accept a three-year, $9.4 million deal. But that was a compressed free-agency period before a lockout-shortened season, and Battier is a different kind of guy.
For now, the Heat, who only have the $3.09 million taypayer exception to spend for next season, might need to be patient. They've offered free-agent shooting guard Ray Allen a three-year, $9.53 million contract in an attempt to pry him away from Boston. The Celtics have offered a two-year deal worth about $12 million.
If the offers were the same, Allen, 36, might already have committed to Miami. But that's a lot of money to leave on the table, and the Celtics know it.
Speaking to the media in Boston on Sunday, Doc Rivers said it would be "a stretch for me to see him go somewhere else.'' That might especially be the case considering the Celtics have agreed to re-sign forward Kevin Garnett, and they're determined to make another title run.
"We really want him back, and I really think at the end of the day that he will be back because this is such a good fit for him," said Rivers, whose Celtics lost to the eventual champion Heat in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals. "We need him back, and we're trying to get him back. ... Yes, there are a couple of teams way under the cap who might be able to offer more money, but ... we can offer him more (than Miami or Memphis, which also has interest)."
So where do the Heat turn if the veteran 3-point specialist returns to the Celtics? Nothing seems certain at this point, although it still is more than a week before July 11, when players officially can sign contracts.
If Dallas elects not to re-sign sharpshooting guard Jason Terry, he could be a possibility. In an email to FOX Sports Florida, shortly before the free-agency negotiating period started at 12:01 a.m. ET on Sunday, Terry said he was "definitely" interested in the Heat. Terry, 34, played it coy Sunday night, saying simply Miami "might" be in the mix for him.
Terry's top priority has been to return to the Mavericks, if they offer a satisfactory deal. Terry, who made $11.16 million last season and will have to take a big pay cut wherever he goes, is waiting to see whether Dallas lands its top free-agent target in point guard Deron Williams or whether he re-signs with Brooklyn.
With Mike Miller's health in question, Miami has the need for a shooter. The Heat have had needs at center and point guard, but they were able to win the championship with Chris Bosh moving over to the pivot from power forward and with Mario Chalmers stepping up his game at the right time at the point.
A center who intrigues the Heat is Marcus Camby. Sources on Monday confirmed mutual interest between Camby and Miami, but it was said his preference remains to re-sign with Houston.
"He would only be interested in Miami for the $3 million," one of the sources said about Camby, putting the kibosh on any thinking the Heat could get Allen for the taxpayer exception and sign Camby, a 16-year veteran, for the veteran's minimum of $1.35 million.
Sources said Houston agreeing to give Chicago restricted free-agent center Omer Asik a three-year, $25 million offer sheet might not affect Camby. While Camby wants to be a starter, he still could have that role with the Rockets and share the job with Asik while mentoring him.
Sources said Camby, who is 38 but wants to play about three more seasons, wants a two- or three-year deal, although he will have to take a big pay cut from the $11.3 million he made last season. If the Rockets don't step up with the appropriate money and length of a deal, then Camby could look strongly at the Heat, if they don't land Allen.
ESPN Los Angeles reported the Heat also have inquired about Lakers big man Jordan Hill. But Miami might not have enough money to land him.
Other big-man big man possibilities include former Heat stalwart Jermaine O'Neal and Rashard Lewis. Waived last week by New Orleans, Lewis doesn't have a lot left, but he might be able to hit some outside shots in limited duty.
At point guard, free agent Andre Miller is off the table, having agreed to a three-year to deal to say with Denver. It remains to be seen what might happen with Chauncey Billups, a Clippers free agent who is recovering from a torn Achilles tendon and could re-sign with them. But many believe Billups would have ended up in Miami last December had he cleared waivers when New York made him an amnesty victim.
If the Heat are willing to be patient, one shooter to keep an eye on is swingman Kyle Korver, who could be let go by Chicago if the Bulls decide not to pick up his $5 million contract option by the July 10 deadline. If they decide they are going to match the offer sheet on Asik, that would appear to increase the chances of Korver being let go.
Heat fans don't have to be reminded much about Korver. He shot 5-of-6 from 3-point range against Miami in an overtime win last April by the Bulls.
Chris Tomasson can be reached at christomasson@hotmail.com or on Twitter @christomasson
