Livingston back at ABCD CampA couple weeks ago I listed Shaun Livingston as a free agent that should end up with a contract before opening night. Word out of South Beach this afternoon is that Livingston found his new home.
Livingston was in Miami on Friday morning and agent Henry Thomas was working with the Heat to finalize negotiations on a potential two-year contract. Livingston also has received interest from the Los Angeles Clippers, Portland Trail Blazers and Minnesota Timberwolves. Two league officials said Friday that Livingston’s deal with the Heat was imminent and should be completed by the team’s evening scrimmage.
Just the other day we were talking about Miami’s PG situation and how Dwyane Wade said it would take “longer than a month of training camp to develop trust with any of the Heat’s contenders to start alongside him in the backcourt.” New head coach Erik Spoelstra probably didn’t like the sound of that coming from his superstar, and that is perhaps why Livingston is in Miami today.
He has a close relationship with Heat guard Dwyane Wade. Both are Chicago natives and are represented by agent Henry Thomas. Livingston has worked out at least twice for the Heat in recent weeks, and Riley has been intrigued by his size and ball-handling — going as far as to compare Livingston’s skills to those of Hall of Famer Magic Johnson.
So if Livingston signs with the Heat today, between Mario Chalmers, Chris Quinn and Marcus Banks, who is the odd man out?
Source: Miami Herald
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October 3rd, 2008 at 4:23 pm
Scott says:
Banks. I want to say Quinn, but Riley has some sort of weird affection for him… and Chalmers has too much upside to deem him the odd man out.
October 3rd, 2008 at 4:23 pm
Dell says:
Nice pick up, Quinns probably out. But you can’t help but think he must still be hurt, or severely slowed by the injuries. Otherwise how do you justify only 3 teams being interested in a “nice” 6′7 point with vision?
October 3rd, 2008 at 4:25 pm
Drink the Haterade (KB24 Chip 09) says:
It’s gotta be Shaun starting and Banks being 3rd string. Although I would try to trade him for a center
October 3rd, 2008 at 4:30 pm
Bron42 AkA Your Moms Best Friend says:
Its gotta be quinn. Hes a better pg than banks but banks has more experience, is a better defender and is gettin paid like 5 mill so they cant just cut him.
October 3rd, 2008 at 4:36 pm
Coop says:
I just hope Livingston has been necking weight gainer. He’s soooo skinny at 6′7 it’s an injury waiting to happen. Basketball but technically be ‘non-contact’ but the stress on joins is huge and he’s simply got to build himself up a bit imo.
October 3rd, 2008 at 4:44 pm
MoxWestCoastRep says:
Agree w Bron except the part where Quinn is better PG than Banks. Banks is better and Quinn is the odd man out 4 sho
October 3rd, 2008 at 4:48 pm
Kudabeen says:
Banks has trad value and Quinn doesn’t. I can see Banks landing with team like the Clips, Milwaukee, maybe even Lakers if they were really looking to pick up another guard. I’d like to see a team get him that needs defense, size and a guy off the bench that can put pressure on his matchup.
Maybe the Sixers can get away with trading Willie for Banks…here’s hoping…
I never was a big fan of Livingston. He just reminded me of Penny in all the bad ways. He just doesn’t look like he is built for the grind. Hope all the best for dude.
October 3rd, 2008 at 4:50 pm
Tim says:
Rip Hamilton is super skinny too but he is never hurt? Dont think they skinny arguement works?
October 3rd, 2008 at 4:57 pm
george says:
I suggested two months ago for this pick-up. Good move, (Banks has trade value.) Kudabeen is right.
October 3rd, 2008 at 4:58 pm
miamiVIS3 says:
First of all Pat Riley loves Quinny (as he’s called) because he is his illegitimate son.
Most likley the Heat will try and package Banks and Daquean Cook to get a starting quality center. Although don’t be suprised if they simply cut Quinn and take what they have at center the coaches are really high on Joel Anthony as the think he has a little Ben Wallace/Zo in him.
October 3rd, 2008 at 4:59 pm
miamiVIS3 says:
Oh and @ Kudabeen
Philly could use Banks but we’d have to get back some kind of post player I don’t think there’s room on the team foor another average swingman.
October 3rd, 2008 at 5:00 pm
Blue says:
you can tell it’s a bunch of non-heat fans talking here…banks is the odd man out for sure! coach spo is already hyped up about quinn so far in camp. banks was never a piece that they wanted. they had to take him. but still, livingston is not gonna suit up anytime soon, and if he does, will not be a starter!
on opening day that rotation will be…
quinn
banks
chalmers
banks and chalmers will reverse roles as the season goes on. livingston is still an unknown in the rotation.
October 3rd, 2008 at 5:05 pm
Jah says:
I’m drooling at the thought of the following:
PG - Shaun Livingston (healthy)
SG - Dwyane Wade
SF - Michael Beasley
PF - Shawn Marion (for defensive purposes)
C - Jamaal Magloire
As far as the point guard situation, how about the following?:
1. Shaun Livingston
2. Mario Chalmers
3. Marcus Banks
October 3rd, 2008 at 5:12 pm
miamiVIS3 says:
@ Blue
I wouldn’t say that Banks is for sure the odd man out because it depends on what they want. If they want a proven guy that plays defense than they keep Banks but Quinn has a good shot at staying because his jumpshot is water and he just straight doesn’t turn the ball over.
October 3rd, 2008 at 5:19 pm
Coop says:
Tim,
I think Hamilton is the exception rather than the rule; he’s very ground-based, comes off screens, rarely gets hit hard. My 2 pennies
October 3rd, 2008 at 5:22 pm
Blue says:
@miamiVIS3…
i would say out of the three, he’s the one with the least working for him (banks that is). but i’m pretty sure that if they could find someone who would take his contract, they’d unload him in a second!!! once chalmers develops a bit, his d will probably be better than banks’, and he’ll actually pass the ball!
either way, our heat will be a lot better than last year! haha
October 3rd, 2008 at 5:24 pm
MoxWestCoastRep says:
How bout banks and Quinn play 1 on 1 for the spot.
Ill take Banks
October 3rd, 2008 at 5:31 pm
Blue says:
@ moxwestcoastrep…
hahahaha…shit, banks plays a team game like he’s playing 1 on 1.
quinn is very underrated. he’s just as solid as a rajon rondo, but he’s not as athletic. he gets overlooked a lot because he looks like he’s 12, but he’s actually really good! with b-easy, wade and marion, all they want is someone who’ll take his outside shot when he gets it and won’t fuck things up. banks takes his shot regardless and is turnover prone.
October 3rd, 2008 at 5:38 pm
SteveNash says:
didn’t riley compare odom to magic?
October 3rd, 2008 at 5:46 pm
MoxWestCoastRep says:
Fair enough blue, fair enough!
October 3rd, 2008 at 6:07 pm
Drink the Haterade (KB24 Chip 09) says:
Rip Hamilton is also constantly working out. From has been said he has the same work ethic as Kobe. He says he wants to never be the guy that gets tired so he figures if he trains hard everyday then he can tire out the guy guarding him. Shaun work ethic is not so great.
October 3rd, 2008 at 7:05 pm
Big Shot BOB says:
Where’d this notion come from that Banks is a defensive stopper. The couple times I seen him play on the Celts and Suns I didn’t see it?
October 3rd, 2008 at 7:10 pm
barons beard says:
Good pick-up, but I am a bit suspicious that there were so few team interested in him, given his size at the positon and skill set. If he can stay healthy, it is a great pick up by the Heat
On the skinny = injury prone, Rip and Tayshuan Prince look like Kenyan marathon runners but are very durable guys, so I don’t share that viewpoint
October 3rd, 2008 at 7:56 pm
Ray says:
Shaun Livingston is a heck of a ballplayer. I’m also a big fan of his cause he was supposed to go to Duke but went directly from high school and was supposed to be the next prodigy point in LA. I feel with his height and athletic ability, he is the perfect compliment to Dwayne Wade, even better than Derrick Rose would have been. Shaun has the skills to become a top playmaker in this league within the next couple of years. The new Heat coach must be in Heaven (just wait until Pat Reily feels like comin out retirement and leading the Heat to another ’ship). Best of luck to Flash, Shaun and Want to be MVP Beastly.
October 3rd, 2008 at 10:09 pm
Homeless J says:
I like this move, and I really hope it works out for him.
If Livingston can get healthy enough, he could take the ball up on offense and switch with D-Wade on defense and guard bigger shooting guards. It also doesn’t hurt for a tall point guard with good court vision to play under a guy that coached Magic Johnson.
October 4th, 2008 at 12:43 am
Lady Luck says:
I hope this works out for Shaun. I think if he is healthy, he and Wade make for a nice backcourt. I think Banks will definitely be the odd man out for the Heat. He’s turnover-prone. They should try to trade him to anyone who can give up a rebounding big man(who’s gonna do that?). If they really are looking to trade Marion, then Banks will probably be thrown in (again). Initially I think Quinn might get the start. But it won’t last, and Shaun (if healthy) will be the starter with Quinn and then Chalmers as the backups. Shaun needs to work on his defense. In the open court, his vision is nice, and with Wade, Marion, and Beasley on the run….well let’s just say they’d be fun to watch. Big up to Shaun for working his way back from such a devastating injury.
October 4th, 2008 at 3:41 am
dagwaller says:
Anyone who thinks that Banks is going to make this team is deluded. Let’s see…Quinn can play the actual PG position, and Chalmers has the upside. Banks is somewhere in between, so…why would they keep him? Oh wait, they won’t. People hating on Quinn need to actually watch games that Banks TRIES to play in. (Probably the same kind of people that think that Telfair and Gerald Green are “good players”. Could take them in one on one, but to lead a team? Puhleeeeeease…).
October 4th, 2008 at 4:37 am
QuEsT??? says:
the dream is over quinn, you can wake up now.
October 4th, 2008 at 11:27 am
shake&bake says:
Shaun’s not from Chicago, he’s from Peoria which is about 3 hours away. So I don’t see much connection there. My guess is that Quinn will start but I think by the middle of the season, Livingston will be starting.
I played against him when I was in 8th grade and he was in 7th grade. I think he weighs the same as he did then.