One general manager said if the Heat doesn’t get any of its top targets – Bosh, Stoudemire or long shot LeBron James – the best fallback would be signing Atlanta guard Joe Johnson and playing him at small forward. That idea intrigues the Heat as a fallback. “Johnson and Wade like to have the ball in their hands, but it’s still viable,” the executive said. “But your lineup would be small and you would need to sign a good defender to play center.”

Another scout said Miami’s best fallback approach (if it misses out on Bosh or Stoudemire) would be signing Carlos Boozer and trading Michael Beasley, or trying to sign Memphis restricted free agent Rudy Gay. But Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley told season-ticket holders last week he will match any offer for Gay. The Heat would pursue Boozer if it can’t get other targets, but worries he and Beasley would overlap.