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Marcus Thornton May Be Holding Out For The Miami Heat

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The Godfather description with expensive suits, slicked black or gray hair and a powerful demeanor has been used to describe Pat Riley a trillion times. And you would be hard pressed to find an instance where those characteristics did not fit.

Whether it was chiding someone for doing wrong to the organization or delivering Grade A retooling instead of rebuilds, Riley always finds a way to gain a stronghold on control. How else would he be able to not only get the ear of a LeBron James, but hold it long enough to milk two more championship rings out of the move?

A history of winning does not hurt. Neither does his gift of gab that landed him in a meeting with LaMarcus Aldridge last July even though the free agent knew the Miami Heat did not have the money to sign him.

As the story goes, Riley convinced Aldridge that he would need the help of players who would be willing to sacrifice in order to win at title. However, he chose to seek that help in San Antonio rather than spend another year in Portland before signing on with Miami this summer.

That waiting game plan did not turn out for the best, but it looks like a new one may have legs.

By now everyone knows about Riley’s failed trick to cut Beno Udrih in the hopes that Philadelphia would claim the injured point guard, thus freeing up enough money under the luxury tax to sign Marcus Thornton. But something interesting happened when Thornton cleared waivers on Feb 28. There was talk of teams pursuing him, yet signs of him accepting a contract went radio silent.

Besides a Cleveland Cavaliers rumor, there has not been much talk, leading to speculation that the Heat team president and his former pick worked out one of Riley’s “wait until we have money” deals.

It would put more than a month of rust on Thornton — as he could not sign with the club until Apr. 6 to fit into the tax loophole — but it would also fulfill multiple needs. The Heat would add a 36 percent three-point shooter to their No. 29 ranked roster, and Thornton would finally get to the team that he wanted to sign with this summer. This would add yet another chapter to the book of Riley folklore.

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