Miami Heat Blog – Page 129 – NBA Blog

Dwyane Wade sheds the Flash nickname

Joseph Goodman of the Miami Herald reports:

Wade announced via Twitter on Sunday night that he is shedding his nickname Flash.

On Monday, Wade explained this season signifies a new era in his life and his career. For Wade, dropping the nickname is about growing up. Wade is 28 years old.

“That’s not me no more,” Wade said. “I’m in a different time; in a different place than I was when I was 22 years old. I’m just going in a different direction. I am who I am and just been thinking about it a lot, and I just want people to respect me for who I am and not a character.”

Heat waive Patrick Beverley and Da’Sean Butler

The Miami Heat announced today that they have waived guard Patrick Beverley and forward Da’Sean Butler.

Beverley appeared in six preseason games (two starts) averaging 6.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.00 steals in 23.0 minutes.

Butler did not appear in a game for the Heat as he recovers from left knee surgery.

The Heat roster now stands at 15.

Heat sign Jerry Stackhouse

The Miami Heat announced today that they have signed free agent guard Jerry Stackhouse. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Stackhouse, who was originally drafted with the third pick in the 1995 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers, has appeared in 896 career games (563 starts) with five teams over 15 NBA seasons. During his career, he has averaged 18.0 points, 3.6 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 32.8 minutes while shooting 40.9 percent from the field, 30.7 percent from three-point range and 82.1 percent from the foul line. During the 2009-10 season, Stackhouse averaged 8.5 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 20.4 minutes while shooting 40.8 percent from the field, 34.6 percent from three-point range and 79.7 percent from the foul line in 42 games after signing on January 19, 2010 with the Milwaukee Bucks. He scored in double-figures 15 times, including two 20-point games.

The two-time NBA All-Star has appeared in 71 postseason games (16 starts) and has averaged 13.8 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 30.1 minutes while shooting 37.2 percent from the field, 34.2 percent from three-point range and 83.0 percent from the foul line. Last season, he appeared in seven postseason games for the Milwaukee Bucks averaging 7.3 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 20.6 minutes while shooting 32.6 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from three-point range and 90.0 percent from the foul line including a 16-point effort in a 107-93 Opening Round Game 3 win against the Atlanta Hawks.

Mike Miller out until January

The AP reports:

Miami Heat swingman Mike Miller will be sidelined until January after undergoing surgery to repair a broken right thumb as well as ligament damage.

Miller was injured in a freak accident at practice on Wednesday…

Miller will be in a cast for four weeks, then in a brace for additional recovery time.

InsideHoops.com editor says: This hurts, but the Heat will be fine, partially because of those LeBron, Wade and Bosh guys, but also because Miller’s role will be pretty clear and easy to adjust to: Stand outside and hit open shots. It isn’t a role that requires lots of time to fit into. Miami does need Miller and will be a bit worse without him, though.

Magic-Heat October 22 preseason game canceled

The NBA preseason game scheduled for Friday evening between the Orlando Magic and the Miami Heat at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, FL has been canceled due to unsafe playing conditions on the arena floor.

The game will not be rescheduled.

Heat waive Kenny Hasbrouck and Shavlik Randolph

The Miami Heat announced today that they have waived guard Kenny Hasbrouck and forward Shavlik Randolph.

Hasbrouck appeared in five preseason games (one start) averaging 4.6 points, 3.0 assists and 1.4 rebounds in 24.2 minutes.

Randolph appeared in three preseason games averaging 2.7 points, 3.3 rebounds and 13.3 minutes.

The Heat roster now stands at 16.

Dwyane Wade now likely out until Heat season opener

Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports:

The Miami Heat will not be whole until the Oct. 26 season opener at TD Garden against the Boston Celtics.

And for the next few days, the team won’t even be intact in South Florida.

Coach Erik Spoelstra said Friday he no longer is hopeful of getting sidelined guard Dwyane Wade into one of the team’s final three exhibitions.

“That’ll be tough. We don’t want to rush it,” Spoelstra said. “If it was the regular season, possibly. We still have a lot of time. I know everybody’s saying it has to happen right now. But the most important thing is our health. We’ll be patient.”

Rafer Alston seeks NBA comeback

Veteran point guard Rafer Alston wants to continue playing professional basketball. And if he can’t do it in the NBA, the New York native is willing to cross oceans to keep his career going.

On Thursday, Alston’s long-time personal manager and close friend Eddie Lau told InsideHoops.com editor Jeff Lenchiner in an email that the player is in “the best shape of his life and that he is looking for a chance to get back in the NBA as a backup point guard.”

Lau also said that Alston is open to playing overseas, should that be the best opportunity for him.

Several recent reports said that the guard is working out with a team in China, and could sign a contract there.

Alston played for part of the 2009-10 NBA season, with the New Jersey Nets and Miami Heat. His career NBA average is 10.1 points, 2.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game.

Heat waive Mickell Gladness and Anthony Mason Jr.

The Miami Heat announced today that they have waived center Mickell Gladness and forward Anthony Mason Jr.

Gladness appeared in one preseason game totaling one rebound and one block in four minutes of action.

Mason Jr. appeared in three preseason games averaging 4.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 23.7 minutes.

The Heat roster now stands at 18.

Wade hurts hamstring in Heat preseason debut

The AP reports:

The Big 3 were together for merely three minutes. LeBron James and Chris Bosh more than picked up the slack after Dwyane Wade’s preseason debut came to a quick end.

And with that, this era for the Miami Heat got off to a promising, but not perfect, start.

James and Bosh combined for 38 points in their exhibition debuts, and the Heat easily beat the Detroit Pistons 105-89 in the preseason opener for both teams Tuesday night.

“It was something I’ve waited for all summer,” James said. “To be able to be back on the court, it was great. The reception from the fans was awesome and it was great we were able to give them the same energy that they gave us.”

The outcome was meaningless, but the game wasn’t for Miami — not after Wade limped off just 3:17 into the game with a strained right hamstring. He went into the locker room shortly afterward, did not return, and could miss up to two weeks. Wade expects to be back long before the Oct. 26 regular-season opener in Boston.