Miami Heat Blog – Page 132 – NBA Blog

Poll results: Best teams in league

An InsideHoops.com poll started on July 17 asking readers to select the five best teams in the NBA gave some expected results.

The league champion Los Angeles Lakers, receiving 3,540 votes, got more support than any team, followed by the Miami Heat (3,151 votes), Orlando Magic (2,931) and Boston Celtics (2,900).

The other two teams to receive over 1,000 votes were the Chicago Bulls (1,426), who added Carlos Boozer this summer, and Oklahoma City Thunder (1,149), a talented young team featuring star Kevin Durant.

The Dallas Mavericks (873) also received support.

NBA fines David Kahn, Timberwolves for remarks about Beasley

Minnesota Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations David Kahn has been fined $50,000 for inappropriate comments about Timberwolves forward Michael Beasley. In addition, the Timberwolves organization has been fined $50,000 for Kahn’s remarks.

Earlier today, the St. Paul Pioneer Press had reported: “Timberwolves President David Kahn said newly acquired Michael Beasley had issues with maturity and with smoking “too much marijuana,” but appears to have grown since then. “He’s a very young and immature kid who smoked too much marijuana and has told me that he’s not smoking anymore,” Kahn said Thursday in an interview with KSTP-AM 1500, “and I told him that I would trust him as long as that was the case.”

Heat re-sign Carlos Arroyo

The Miami Heat announced today that they have re-signed guard Carlos Arroyo. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“By re-signing Carlos, we feel we have accomplished another big step in adding to this team,” said Heat President Pat Riley. “Carlos showed last season that he was one of the most competitive and efficient point guards in the NBA, and we are happy to have him back.”

Arroyo has appeared in 505 career games (148 starts) over eight seasons. During his career, with six NBA teams, he has averaged 6.9 points, 3.2 assists, 1.7 rebounds, and 18.7 minutes, while shooting 43.8 percent from the field and 80.5 percent from the foul line. He has scored in double-figures on 160 occasions, and has registered 60 multi-steal games.

During the 2009-10 season, Arroyo appeared in 72 games (35 starts) for the Heat, averaging 6.1 points, 3.1 assists, 1.8 rebounds and 22.0 minutes, while shooting 47.5 percent from the field and 84.4 percent from the foul line. He set the Heat single-season franchise record for assist-to-turnover ratio (4.17), which ranked second in the NBA last season, and registered a career-high in field goal percentage.

Arroyo originally signed with the Heat as a free agent on October 12, 2009.

Heat sign Juwan Howard

The Miami Heat announced today that they have signed free agent forward Juwan Howard. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“This is a great addition for us,” said Heat President Pat Riley. “We feel that Juwan’s ability to play both the four and five spot will be complimentary to what we have put together. He also gives us incredible professionalism and is a perfect fit behind Chris Bosh and Udonis Haslem.”

“This is a great opportunity in order to play in the City of Miami for the Heat organization,” said Howard. “I’m looking forward to working hard this upcoming season and contributing in any way I can toward the success of the team both on and off the court.”

Howard has appeared in 1,116 career games (898 starts) with seven teams over 16 seasons. During his career, he has averaged 14.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 32.1 minutes while shooting 47.0 percent from the field and 76.3 percent from the foul line. During the 2009-10 season, Howard averaged 6.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and 22.4 minutes, while shooting 50.9 percent from the field and 78.6 percent from the foul line in 73 games (27 starts) for the Portland Trail Blazers. He scored in double-figures 16 times and grabbed 10-plus rebounds seven times.

Howard, who will wear #5 for the Heat, was originally drafted with the fifth pick in the 1994 NBA Draft by the Washington Wizards. He spent six-plus seasons in Washington before being traded to the Dallas Mavericks in a mid-season trade during the 2000-01 season. He was then sent to Denver the following season before signing with the Orlando Magic as a free agent during the 2003-04 season. He was acquired by the Houston Rockets during the 2004-05 season and spent three seasons there, before making stops in Dallas (2007-08), Minnesota (Summer of 2007), Denver (2008) and Charlotte (2008-09). He signed with Portland as a free agent in 2009 and spent one season there, before signing with the Heat as a free agent.

InsideHoops.com editor says: Juwan may be 74 years old, but he can still play and is a good veteran backup who can help the Heat.

Shaq TV dispute settled

WENN.COM reports:

Executives behind basketball ace-turned-reality TV star Shaquille O’Neal’s hit show SHAQ VS. have reached a settlement with a disgruntled author who alleged they stole his concept for the programme.

Writer Todd Gallagher filed suit against O’Neal’s talent representatives at William Morris Endeavor Entertainment in October (09), claiming they had agreed to turn his book, Andy Roddick Beat Me with a Frying Pan, into a TV series in 2008…

The court case has now been dismissed after the two parties reached a deal. The details of the settlement have not been released to the press but is said to be in the six-figures, according to TMZ.com.

Heat re-sign James Jones

The Miami Heat announced today that they have re-signed forward James Jones. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“We are happy to bring back James Jones, whose abilities on and off the court epitomize what the Heat organization stands for,” said Heat President Pat Riley. “He is a consummate professional and a proven three-point threat that will help stretch the floor. As our roster fills out, his ability to shoot the ball will be a valuable asset to our team.”

Jones has appeared in 366 career games (65 starts) over seven seasons. During his NBA career, with four different teams, he has averaged 6.4 points, 2.4 rebounds and 18.9 minutes, while shooting 39.8 percent from the field, 39.5 percent from three-point range, and 86.1 percent from the foul line. He has scored in double-figures on 101 occasions, and has shot at least 82.0 percent from the foul line every season of his career.

During the last two seasons with the Heat, Jones appeared in 76 games (seven starts), averaging 4.1 points, 1.4 rebounds and 14.9 minutes, while shooting 36.6 percent from the field, 37.6 percent from three-point range and 83.1 percent from the foul line.

Jones originally signed with the Heat as a free agent on July 9, 2008. He was waived by the club on June 29, 2010.

Heat re-sign Jamaal Magloire

The Miami Heat announced today that they have re-signed center Jamaal Magloire. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“Re-signing Jamaal is a testament to his work ethic and his desire to win,” said Heat President Pat Riley. “Over the past two seasons in Miami, he has been an asset to this team, in terms of being a role model for our younger players, with his professionalism and his strong locker room presence.”

Magloire has appeared in 628 career games (313 starts) over 10 seasons. He has averaged 7.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 0.94 blocks and 22.4 minutes while shooting 48.0 percent from the field and 64.5 percent from the foul line. He was named a reserve for the Eastern Conference for the 2004 All-Star game and was a one-time selection as Eastern Conference Player of the Month in April 2004.

During the 2009-10 season, Magloire averaged 2.1 points and 3.4 rebounds, while shooting 50.4 percent from the field in 23 games as a reserve. His 16.2 rebound average per 48 minutes was tops on the Heat.

Magloire was originally signed by the Heat as a free agent on Sept. 2, 2008 and re-signed again on July 22, 2009. The Canadian native was originally drafted in the first round (19th overall) of the 2000 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets.

Heat sign Zydrunas Ilgauskas

The Miami Heat announced today that they have signed free agent center Zydrunas Ilgauskas. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“As we continue to shape our roster, we have filled a key position with the addition of Zydrunas,” said Heat President Pat Riley. “He is a two-time All-Star, a proven rebounder, and a great shot blocker. His place in NBA history is already clear, and we are pleased to be able to add a seasoned veteran of his caliber to our roster.”

Ilgauskas has appeared in 771 career games (673 starts) with the Cleveland Cavaliers over 12 seasons. During his career, all with Cleveland, he has averaged 13.8 points, 7.7 rebounds, 1.65 blocks, 1.2 assists and 28.3 minutes, while shooting 47.5 percent from the field and 78.0 percent from the foul line. Ilgauskas is a two-time NBA All-Star (2003 & 2005), and ranked first in Cavaliers history in both offensive rebounds (2,336) and blocks (1,269). His career totals in those same categories rank tied for 42nd place and 44th place in NBA history, respectively.

During the 2009-10 season, Ilgauskas averaged 7.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 20.9 minutes, while shooting 44.3 percent from the field in 64 games (six starts). He recorded double-figure points on 19 occassions and four double-digit rebound games.

Ilgauskas, who will wear #11 for the Heat, was originally selected with the 20th pick by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 1996 NBA Draft.

InsideHoops.com editor says: Big Z barely looked like he could walk by the end of last season, so I’m not sure how much this signing matters. Of course, even when Ilgauskas was younger and still very good, he tended to move as if his legs and feet were made out of cement. But still, I’m thinking he will provide good minutes off the bench for maybe 7-12 minutes per game.

Heat re-sign Joel Anthony

The Miami Heat announced today that they have re-signed center Joel Anthony. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“This contract with Joel Anthony is a testament to the man who is second to none; who has worked hard and deserved this,” said Heat President Pat Riley. “We felt that what he has done over the last couple of years in developing his game, his body and his knowledge warrants this reward. If other NBA non-drafted free agents want a prototype to follow, Joel Anthony is that man”

Anthony has appeared in 169 career games (45 starts) for the Heat. During his three-year NBA career, all with Miami, he has averaged 2.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.38 blocks and 17.0 minutes, while shooting 47.8 percent from the field and 66.8 percent from the foul line. In his 45 career starts, he has averaged 3.5 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.58 blocks in 22.5 minutes. Anthony currently ranks tied for ninth place on the Heat’s all-time blocked shots list with 233. He has also led the Heat in blocks on 66 occasions.

During the 2009-10 season, Anthony appeared in 80 games (16 starts) and averaged 2.7 points, 3.1 rebounds, 1.36 blocks and 16.5 minutes, while shooting 47.8 percent from the field and 71.7 percent from the foul line. He ranked tied for 15th place in the NBA in total blocks (109) and 18th in blocks per game. He also recorded season-highs in games played, minutes played (1,322), points (218), field goals made (76) and attempted (159), free throws made (66) and attempted (92), offensive rebounds (123), defensive rebounds (126), total rebounds (249) and blocks, and led the Heat in blocks on 30 occasions.

Anthony originally signed with the Heat as a free agent on July 3, 2007, then re-signed with the club on July 20, 2009.

Heat sign second round rookie Dexter Pittman

The Miami Heat announced today that they have signed second round draft selection Dexter Pittman. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“One of our priorities in the draft was to make sure that we could augment the depleted center position with the loss of Jermaine O’Neal,” said Heat President Pat Riley. “Dexter has the size and agility to be a very productive player for us in the long run, and there is no better place for him to improve than in the Miami Heat system.”

Pittman, a 6’10”, 290-pound center, played all four seasons at the University of Texas appearing in 134 games (59 starts) and averaged 6.6 points and 4.0 rebounds while shooting 62.3 percent from the field and 60.1 percent from the foul line. He finished his senior season leading the team in both field goal percentage (.654) and blocks (63) while earning the team’s Most Improved Player honor as both a freshman and junior.

Pittman was selected by the Heat with the 32nd pick in the 2010 NBA Draft.