If there was any doubt as to whether NBA players would want to play second fiddle to LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, the answer has become crystal clear.

The Miami Heat has resigned forward Udonis Haslem and agreed to terms with guard Mike Miller in support of the Heat’s superstar trio.

Miscast during his last stop with the Washington Wizards, Miller should fit in nicely with a team where he would be the fourth option, at best.  The former Gator is not a playmaker at the NBA level, but is an excellent catch-and-shoot player with the ability to put the ball on the floor in necessary.  While his ability to stretch the defense will be his biggest asset to the Heat, his height (6’8″) would enable him to comfortably play alongside D-Wade in the backcourt.

Haslem, also a Florida alum and a seven-year NBA vet, doesn’t have the size to complement Bosh in the frontcourt.  But Haslem figures to fill a key role coming off of the Miami bench.  He’s playoff-tested, strong on the glass and has one of the best shooting big men out to 15 feet. 

Reports have also indicated that Cleveland Cavaliers free agent center Zydrunas Ilgauskas has displayed interest in joining the superteam.  The 7’4″ former All-Star is a close friends of LeBron James, and has expressed that he’d like to reunite with him.  “Big Z” is one of the bigger players in the NBA, but is also equipped with a soft shooting touch – and has occasionally taken (and made) 3-pointers.

Miami did miss out on Los Angeles guard Derek Fisher, who chose to stay with his current team by way of a 3-year, $11 million contract.  Fisher would have been a big addition due to his ability to hit clutch shots and play tough defense on smaller opposing guards.  But even Fisher was mulling his decision over whether to join forces with the superstar trio or to remain in Hollywood.

Big Z is thinking about leaving Cleveland for Miami, too.

What interesting about the recent additions is that they – much like the three 2003 draftees – are falling in line with the ‘sacrificing for the team’ concept.  Haslem openly rejected more money per season from Denver, Dallas and New Jersey – citing a desire to play with his good friend Wade and “his boy from day one”, former Gator teammate Mike Miller.  He also feels that this could be a very special team and he was to be a part of it.  Miller also could have went to several suitors, but he knew that teaming with LeBron would be a good fit for him…as well as teaming up once again with his buddy Udonis.

Miller’s agent Arn Tellem:

“For the last week, Mike’s future hinged on LeBron’s. We talked to the Bulls, the New York Knicks, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Los Angeles Clippers. The Knicks showed tremendous interest. … Had the Cavaliers kept LeBron, Mike would have been a great fit for them, too. … But LeBron was always the elephant in the room.”

“Mike told me that if (Heat president Pat Riley) could pull off a James-Wade-Bosh trifecta, he’d be South-Florida bound.”

In such seemingly unusual twists, we are seeing players showing that they cherish winning and personal relationships over a few extra (million) dollars.  It’s the reverse of what critics universally pan athletes for – taking the best financial opportunity without any acknowledgement of the franchise’s ability to compete.

Initially, after securing the “New Big Three,” analysts were wondering how the Heat would fill the rest of their roster.  If Haslem, Miller and Ilgauskas are any indication of the caliber of players that will surround James, Wade and Bosh, we might as well sign the Heat up for, at the very least, an appearance in the 2011 NBA Finals.

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