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.
Category: Miami Heat Blog
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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
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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.
Fan poll results: Six East locks to make playoffs
An InsideHoops.com front page poll asking fans to predict the eight Eastern conference teams that will qualify for the 2010-11 NBA playoffs had the following results:
Celtics 2,046 votes
Heat 2,045 votes
Magic 2,011 votes
Bulls 1,985 votes
Hawks 1,886 vote
Bucks 1,658 votes
Bobcats 1,011 votes
Knicks 1,074 votes
Wizards 637 votes
Sixers 481 votes
Pistons 336 votes
Nets 333 votes
Cavaliers 333 votes
Pacers 229 votes
Raptors 173 votes
Fans felt that the six teams — the Magic, Celtics, Heat, Bulls, Hawks and Bucks — are strong locks to make the playoffs.
After those teams, the Bobcats and Knicks came in next, with the 7th and 8th highest votes.
InsideHoops.com editor says: These are some pretty fantastic results. Look at the top eight teams, in order. That’s pretty close to what an East power ranking list should look like.
Missing the playoffs but getting good support were the Wizards, receiving the 9th highest votes.
Heat will not sign Erick Dampier
Michael Wallace of the Miami Herald reports:
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With four centers already on the roster under guaranteed contracts, the Heat decided Friday to pass on the Erick Dampier experiment.
Dampier, a 14-year veteran free agent, had workouts this week with the Heat and the Houston Rockets after he was released by Charlotte.
Heat president Pat Riley spoke highly Thursday of the type of presence Dampier could add, specifically as a low-post defender and rebounder. But by passing on Dampier, the Heat essentially sent a message that it is comfortable with the front-court players on the roster.
Marijuana charges against Udonis Haslem are dropped
Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports:
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Udonis Haslem will not face marijuana charges over his August traffic stop on the Gratigny Parkway in Miami-Dade County.
“Udonis Haslem has been vindicated,” Attorney Eric Schwartzreich told the Sun Sentinel after receiving word Thursday that the Miami-Dade County State Attorney’s office had ruled the case a no-action.
According to the no-action memo from Assistant State Attorney Errol Portman all five counts against Haslem were dropped by reason of “cannot prove possession.”
The summary of the no-action memo reads, “while there was probable cause for the arrest of Udonis Haslem . . . the State could not prove Udonis Haslem’s knowledge or possession of the cannabis beyond a reasonable doubt.”
Rockets offer Erick Dampier a contract
Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle reports:
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Seeking additional center depth with Yao Ming on a strict playing time limit, the Rockets have offered free agent center Erick Dampier a two-year, $4 million contract, a person with knowledge of the offer said on Wednesday.
Dampier, who was waived by the Charlotte Bobcats on Tuesday, is also expected to consider a minimum contract offer from the Miami Heat and an offer from the Memphis Grizzlies.