– For the latest updates check out: NBA.com’s Free Agent Tracker
Free agent forward Shane Battier has narrowed his list of prospective teams from more than the original dozen or so to a handful of teams, including his current team, the Memphis Grizzlies, Miami, Indiana and Toronto, according to a league source. The 33-year-old, whose defensive skills still are among the league’s best, has been one of the most sought-after free agents since teams were allowed to discuss contract parameters last Wednesday.
The Heat would love to use Battier as a wing defender to help an already-strong defense get even better. The Raptors see Battier as a strong veteran presence for their young core, though they have been less willing than other teams to offer Battier a four-year deal. In addition, one of Toronto’s new assistant coaches, Johnny Davis, was on the Grizzlies’ bench last season, when Battier was re-acquired by the team that drafted him in 2001 from the Rockets.
really weird to see raptors as one of the teams he wants to be in the others make sense. he should stick to the grizz but if not go to the heat!
Battier, as a Raps fan I hope you go to T.O, Raptors could use a veteran leader and you can bring the Raps that defensive identity they truly need, along with Casey as head coach you can bring the Raps to be a good defensive team and also teach Demar, Weems, Johnson a thing or two about defending.
MIAMI HEAT WELCOMES YOU BATTIER, LET’S GET THIS DONE !!!!!!!!! LEBRON + WADE + BOSH + BATTIER + ODEN + HASLEM
cant get them both cap space
You just read my mind !!!
In addition , give Oden sometime to adjust , to heal a little bit more and you will see a Basketball killing machine on the floor!
Yep, once Oden adjusted in 3-4 years then the Heat will finally have a better chance to be the champs !
Nene is the center Miami need. Big,strong and atletic. That a killing machine!!!!!!!
enuff said
Why on earth would he sign with Indiana? What’s there? They already have Granger and Paul George.
i am conflicted as a raptors fan….do we wanna tank or win games but not make the playoffsÉ
Sorry to say – with the kind of players Raptors have, it will be a great achievement for them to reach the playoffs.
Indiana and Memphis are the places to be this year if you want to be part of something exciting (well, that and OKC). But he would help Miami become an even bigger defensive force, that could be exciting!
he should be a backup sf for the knicks
Dont go to Miami, dont make it easier for lebron
I agree. The last thing the Heat need is another player to take the load off LeBron. Aside from having no bench, they have enough talent, and adding Battier would take such a large load off LeBron, as if he needed it with Wade and Bosh playing aside him. If LeBron pushes hard to get Battier on his team it’ll be yet another example of LeBron copping out, having others do the dirty work while he retains all the glory. Don’t go to the Heat Shane.
Man! quit hating on Lebron and get a life…….
You’re really saying “please, please don’t let LeBron win a championship. Please, please. I know he’s close and this year he will surely do it but please, I hate so much that it will destroy me to see LBJ win. Please. I’m a hater and I know I hate the best player and team in the league. Please.”
YOU SOUND SILLY!!! Welcome to south Beach, Shane. Our girls are HOT HOT HOT!!!! And scantily clad year round. Even today.
toronto really!?!? toronto!? lol!
WHY DONT HE HEAT GO AFTER GRANT HILL?!
Grant Hill is a solid contributor but he’s 39 years old, enough said. The Heat are in it for the long haul.
stay with memphis
If I were Pat, I would probably consider hiring Jamal Crawford instead of Battier because the Heat is definitely in need for a scorer off the bench. besides, Crawford can play the guard and forward position, although Battier might be good as well.
Great idea. Crawford is such a potent scorer off the bench that if the Heat added him, they’d essentially be set on offense. All they’d need then is a couple solid defenders coming off the bench and perhaps a descently talented offensive bigman like Big Baby Davis. Not that I want the Heat to get any better but this would most definitely help them.
I would rather get battier than crawford. Defensively, is not even close. Offensively, crawford is better, but battier can hit the open three, which is what miami needs. but also the lakers. Battier please choose the LAKERS!!!!
Battier over Crawford. What we need most is a halfway decent center to take the load off the guys down low. Give us someone who’s not a stiff and we win handily.
We’re going to lose Big Z, Dampier and Juwon Howard or Jamaal magliore. All relative stiffs. replace them with younger guys who can run and chew gum at the same time, we win easily.
Eddy curry, Kwame Brown, those type of guys will become better on this team.
steve nash to miami!!!
Wade to Chicago!
it would make sense…but i don’t think the Heat have anything to offer…Battier in the Heat..that’s one tough defense..
That would be a good addition. The perfect vet PG type to run this team. Imagine the pick and rolls with LBJ or CBosh1
That would be game, set and match!!
Do nothing and it’s game, set and match.
Bottom line, THE HEAT WILL BE NBA CHAMPS THIS YEAR!!!
only heat is the best chance to win a title
Aww, Can’t Lebron get a ring even with his Super Friends? He still needs more good caliber players? (:
Let’s get this straight….NO ONE PLAYER HAS EVER WON A CHAMPIONSHIP BY THERE SELF…NOT JORDAN,NOT KOBE, NOT MAGIC…..NOBODY SO WHAT MAKE YOU THINK LEBRON CAN DO IT WITHOUT OTHER PLAYERS. YEAH HE HAS WADE ON HIS SIDE AND DON’T EVEN MENTION BOSH HE NEED WORK. LEBRON WILL GET HIS RING BELIEVE THAT AND WHEN HE DOES……ITS SOUR LEMONS FOR YOU CHUMPS……..SO HATE WHY YOU CAN BECAUSE ITS COMING. AND TO MAKE IT CLEAR I’M A BOSTON FAN BUT I’M A FAN OF LEBRON.
@jacktrip716 y u so serious? is your life on the line? NBA ain’t everything you just a fan. Now sit back and watch the game you LeBrick’s diq
I would LOVE to see Battier in a Raps uni. He would be a huge fan favoriate! Realistically… don’t think it would happen, but it would be awesome.
i hate the heat but maybe i’ll like them if they acquire oden, nash, battier. great team!
AGREE!
Shane needs to stay with Memphis! After last years playoff run why wouldn’t he? We love insane shane!
heat would be the best team for him
Come back to HOUSTON
Phinoex is not giving up Nash but Miami can get a ring if they trade Lebron for Taurasi
kanishk you dont know what you saying so hush. its a team game not 5 man roster. if u played basketball you would see that but like most post and forums there arm chair critics. jamal craword to the heat and g Oden =)
not phx decision nash will leave a loser franchise any day thats what he did to dallas
I like Lebron for Taurasi, but I think Phoenix would be getting the short end of the stick.
if the heat can get some good role players (better than last year), which i am pretty sure they will. They will win it. I dont want to, but they will. Unless ofcourse the lakers can pull some good deals, such as a trade- bynum for howard. no disrespect to bynum, he is a terrific center, probably the league’s #2. but dwight is the best one right now.
Bynum for Howard !!!
What planet is this guy living in ?
Are you that ignorant ?
Who in their right mind would make such trade ?
Please think again !
the Heat would welcome u shane come get this ring
stay with memphis shane, no other teams lov u more, u are a part of us.
miami is the only contender on that list, so hes taking his defence to south beach
WHO CARES??? REALLY?Shane battier. Lol
battier would look good on a miami uniform, and he would definitely upgrade their bench.. plus battier looks like a real prof player, maybe he can give some prof to lebron.
If i were Shane, I’d go to Miami.
Where are you guys getting Nash? He’s not even close to available. He is wanting to finish up his contract with the Suns. Pacers are rumored in a lot of deals. Everyone knows Howard or Paul won’t be knocking the Pacers’ door down no matter how much cash they have next summer. Thus, look for Indiana to swing a deal for Milsap, which could include Paul George, and that would create a much needed veteran back up that can actually still perform on the court.
There are such things as TORONTO RAPTORS FANS? WHAT ARE THOSE?!
Dwight Howard to South Beach!!! Go go Heat!!!
Nene, Haslem, Battier, Lebron, Wade and Pat coaching sound better, what do you think guys? Thats a killing machine. The problem with Oden is the injuries and that a huge risk….. Miami get Nene please… come on Pat do your things then go down to the bench and be the coach….
As a lakers fan, Battier’s presence make the bench strong, specially when he’s the back up forward for Metta, offensively he’s good strong outside shooter, defensively he’s a lock down defender specially on the wings…..He’ll be a great compliment if he would like to join the Lake show.
How are the Heat going to sign all these players. They have 65 million already on the books for next season. Oden will cost at least 8 million and Nene probably 13 million.
As far as Battier going to Toronto. Battier would be able to start and maybe he does not want to be a role player yet.
I think miami heat is going to win it all in 2012.I like the heat.all they need is a center and a point guard.
lebron james posed an invitation to steve nash to come join him in maimi heat so both of them could help each other win their first title.Steve nash is like i would rather stay in phoenix rather than come to miami where he would way great chance at winning a tile.look at who the heat got on their roster,they got lebron james, chris bosh,mario chalmers,eddie house,dwyane wade,udonis haslem,mike miller,and james jones.steve nash would actually be getting help and support playing on miami unlike phoenix where he is getting no help or support at all.steve nash is just being an idiot.I thought he had better sense than that.He is letting people know that he does not want to win a title by staying in phoenix.Because if he really wanted to win a tilte he would have made the decision to ask the suns to trade him to a contender so he can have a shot at winning a tiltle.but did he do that no he didnt.steve nash is just being dumb and stupid by staying on this team this team is going nowhere.He is just making things bad on his self instead of making things easir on his self.