Udonis Haslem offers unique idea for Miami Heat ownership

ORLANDO – New Miami Heat management title? Check.

No. 40 to the rafters at Kaseya Center? Check.

Ownership stake? For Udonis Haslem, apparently still an ongoing pursuit.

And perhaps a pursuit with a twist.

Having for years hinted at an ownership stake as the ultimate retirement tribute, the former Heat captain now is floating the idea of partnering with rapper, songwriter and recording executive Rick Ross, another Miami-Dade County original.

For now, Heat owner Micky Arison has kept the ownership suite in the family. But recently Haslem raised the notion of a partnership with Ross, an idea he further clarified last week to the Sun Sentinel ahead of the retirement of his No. 40 on Friday night at Kaseya Center.

“Still working on it,” Haslem said. “That is still part of the conversation and that’s another conversion I have to have with Nick (Arison, the Heat’s CEO). “I’m not a part of the ownership group yet, so I can’t really bring anybody in.

“So what I would say is Rick Ross would be a tremendous addition to the ownership group. But I’ve got to get my part taken care of first. I’m still working on that. For me, that’s still the ultimate goal.”

Haslem initially floated the idea on his The OGs podcast, pushing Ross toward interest.

“I know you got the money now,” Haslem said. “When you gonna make that play?”

Ross told Haslem to lead the way.

“I need y’all to walk me in there,” Ross said. “Come on, we gotta get us a piece of that Miami Heat.”

Said Haslem amid the back and forth, “In my mind I would love to see that, I would love to see that.”

Added Ross. “Hey, big homie, that’s a dream; that’s a dream for Rozay, you know, just to see, you know, the city, because it wouldn’t just be for me, iIt’ll be for the city.”