Sports Agenda For Wednesday (2/23/11)

Big Story:
As predicted yesterday, the Heat had absolutely no problem with the Sacramento Kings Tuesday night, more on that later. The Heat are also actively shopping Mike Miller. There's more goings on in the world of the NFL labor dispute. We're less than a week until the start of Spring Training games for the Fish. And, the Panthers, well, there's always next year.

Heat:
Lots of things to get to with the Heat.

First, they destroyed the Kings Tuesday night, which shouldn't be a surprise. The Kings' best player didn't play and that meant it was game on for the Heat. The best news out of the game was that 5 players scored in double figures, including Mario Chalmers. If Chalmers can get his foul problems under control, he could go a long way towards solidifying the Heat's lineup. It would leave the only position of need at the center position.

Speaking of centers, the Heat have only one true bargaining chip to push on the trade front and that's Mike Miller. He's been a bust for the Heat and is not paying dividends the team was hoping for. He's being dangled as trade bait for anyone looking to take him on. The guy the Heat would like to land is Nene from the Denver Nuggets.

The problem is the difference between Miller and Nene's contract is about $6 million, which would likely price him out of the Heat's range. A guy the Heat could make a run at is Ty Lawson or Raymond Felton of the Nuggets. It would shore up the point guard position and the Heat could use Miller and/or possibly Carlos Arroyo as trade bait.

The Heat are probably looking at getting a return on their investment in Dexter Pittman next year, but if Udonis Haslem can come back, that would be a great spark off the bench to help the rotation. But that's a big IF right now.

NFL Labor:
The NFL has summoned every coach, gm, and one other high ranking official to Indianapolis for a meeting on Thursday. The NFLPA said reports of progress in the negotiations are speculation and will conduct a meeting with all player agents on Friday.

The NFL is expected to talk in their meeting about the rules for operating their respective teams if a lockout begins.

Essentially, unless both sides are using a smokescreen, it looks like mediation isn't helping to settle the dispute between billionaires and millionaires.

Marlins:
The Florida Marlins continue to put together their team in spring training this year. They're trying to give Matt Dominguez a chance to land the third-base job one year after hitting .252 with 14 home runs and 81 RBI's. He's a 21-year-old rookie who spent last year playing for the Jacksonville Suns in Double-A baseball. The Marlins are starting to put some good young talent together on the field. Of course given the history of the team's cheapskate owner Jeffrey Loria getting rid of young talent…*cough* Dan Uggla *cough*…don't get too excited about the team holding on to the young talent.

Panthers: @ Ottawa Senators (7:00 p.m. Fox Sports Florida)
I've run out of things to say positive about the Panthers, so as I was taught as a kid, if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.