Miami Heat ‘Free-agent Focus’: Jason Richardson

(When the lockout ends, the Miami Heat will be limited to no more than the mid-level exception to spend in free agency, which should fall somewhere in the $5.5 million range. That’s if it exists at all in a new collective-bargaining agreement. Otherwise, there might only be the veteran minimum to spend, which would be roughly $1 million for 2011-12. This is the 20th in a series of evaluations of potential free-agent targets.) 2010-11 salary: $14.3 million. The case for: Every year there is a player who gets caught on the outside in free agency, when the money dries up and the most appealing option becomes a short deal with a contender to reestablish value. It’s a longshot, but Richardson could find himself in such a scenario. The case against: It would take a significant amount of humility for Richardson to be willing to move into the sixth-man stage of his career. Plus, it’s not as if the Heat need another high-volume shooter. Mostly, it’s an economic long...