Do the Heat have the chips to pull off a significant trade?

Nene. Chauncey Billups. Another center. A point guard who defends.
There has been plenty of chatter of where the Heat stand and whom they might be pursuing heading into next Thursday’s NBA trading deadline.
But there also needs to be a sobering reality, or two.
Namely, there is not much the Heat have to offer.

While Nuggets center Nene (left) and Denver point guard Chauncey Billups have been linked to Heat interest, such machinations could prove too complex.

In many ways, March 1, not the Feb. 24 trading deadline, might stand as the most significant personnel deadline for Pat Riley’s team, with March 1 when players must be waived in order to be available for another team’s playoff roster.
That’s when Chauncey Billups and/or Troy Murphy could become available, based on what the Nets and Nuggets do or don’t do.
As far as actual trades, you essentially can cast aside three-quarters of the Heat roster, either because of minimal salaries or because several of the players on one-year deals or one-year deals with options cannot be traded without their consent.
What the Heat, who mortgaged their position in the first round of the draft for almost the entire next decade, have to offer essentially is this:

• The contract of forward Udonis Haslem, who earns $3.5 million this season. In this case, you’re talking about a player who currently is not exactly ambulatory, following November foot surgery. Plus, could Pat Riley be as cold to ship a player who turned down nearly twice the contract from the Nuggets in the offseason to Denver now? That basically would have Haslem playing in Denver for the discount he offered as a means to stay in South Florida. It would be one of the most callous moves ever by an NBA front office.
• The contract of forward Mike Miller, who earns $5 million this season. In this case, you’re talking about a player whose concussion history has raised significant concerns in recent weeks. Plus Miller, like Haslem, has four more years left, on his $29 million deal. And, remember, this is a player LeBron James sought at the start of free agency as a future running mate, be it in South Florida or elsewhere. Like Haslem, Miller also turned down more elsewhere to play for the Heat.
• The 2011 second-round pick gained from the Timberwolves in the Michael Beasley trade. While many were shocked that the Heat did not obtain at least one first-round pick from Minnesota, or at least the right to swap future first-round draft slots with the ‘Wolves, this actually is a significant trade chip, since it will come at the top of the second round, but without the need to offer a guaranteed contract. This also could be a draft slot the Heat utilize to obtain an upgrade at point guard, considering Mario Chalmers was a No. 34 pick in 2008.

Yes, the Heat have been talking to teams about upgrades, with center and point guard the areas of need.
And, yes, like most of the rest league, the Heat are waiting on a puff of smoke to emanate from Carmelo’s camp to see how the NBA landscape might be reset.
But when it comes to pushing chips to the middle of the table, be aware that the Heat have precious few after cashing in last summer