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Heat granted medical exception
MIAMI (AP) -- The Miami Heat have been granted a $3.88 million salary-cap exception to acquire a replacement for center Alonzo Mourning, which may allow them to pursue free-agent forward Joe Smith. Under NBA rules, the Heat qualified for the medical exception because Mourning is expected to be sidelined all season with a kidney disorder. The Heat must use the exception by Nov. 26, and they will await a ruling by an arbitrator on whether NBA commissioner David Stern had the authority to void Smith's previous two contracts with the Minnesota Timberwolves. If the arbitrator sides with Stern, Smith will likely leave the Timberwolves. The Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks, Dallas Mavericks and Miami are all interested in Smith. "We'd be very interested in pursuing that," Heat coach Pat Riley said Saturday. "We need to fortify our front line. We've been at work trying to formulate something that brings that to the team." The Heat could also use the exception in a trade. Smith, selected first overall by Golden State in the 1995 draft, averaged 9.9 points and 6.2 rebounds in 78 games for Minnesota last season. The Heat have had no contract discussions with him, Riley said. "He's not talking to anybody until there's a final solution on what's going on in Minnesota," Riley said.
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