The Miami Heat announced today they have made qualifying offers to Joel Anthony and Jamario Moon, making them restricted free agents.
Anthony, a 6’9”, 245-pound center, appeared in 65 games (28 starts) for the HEAT last season averaging 2.2 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.43 blocks in 16.1 minutes of action. He finished second on the team in blocks (93), fourth in field goal percentage (.483) and tied for fourth in offensive rebounds (89). He recorded a single-game career high 12 points while grabbing a career-high 13 rebounds at Memphis on Dec. 14, 2008. His 1.43 blocks per game average ranked second on the team as he blocked a shot in a career-tying seven consecutive games from Dec. 12 thru Dec. 26, 2008.
Moon a 6’8”, 200-pound forward, who was originally acquired from the Toronto Raptors, along with Jermaine O’Neal in exchange for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks on Feb. 13, 2009, appeared in 26 games (21 starts) for the HEAT last season averaging 7.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 26.5 minutes of action. He finished the season first in the NBA for steals-per-turnover ratio (2.00:1) having recorded 86 steals and only 43 turnovers. Additionally he ranked 40th in the league in steals per game (1.08) and dished out a new career-high six assists at Philadelphia on Mar. 15, 2009.
