Miami Heat Blog – Page 133 – NBA Blog

Heat sign Mike Miller

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

“From the first moment that we met Mike on July 1, it seemed like it would be a match made in heaven,” said Heat President Pat Riley. “We consider him to be the finest perimeter shooter in the NBA. But also he is a multi-faceted player who can rebound, handle the ball and make plays. We expect big things from him.”

Miller has appeared in 692 career games (528 starts) with four teams over 10 seasons. During his career, he has averaged 13.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 32.4 minutes while shooting 46.4 percent from the field and 40.5 percent from three-point range. He was selected as the NBA’s Rookie of the Year following the 2000-01 season, and was the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year following the 2005-06 season.

During the 2009-10 season, Miller averaged 10.9 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.9 assists, while shooting 50.1 percent from the field in 54 games (50 starts) for the Washington Wizards. He led the Wizards in three-pointers made with 82, and his 48.0 percent shooting from three-point range ranked second in the NBA.

Miller, who will wear #13 for the Heat, was originally drafted with the fifth pick in the 2000 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic. He was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies during the 2002-03 season, and then traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves prior to the 2008-09 season. He was then acquired by the Washington Wizards prior to the start of the 2009-10 season, and spent one season playing for the Wizards before signing as a free agent with the Heat.

Wade still shocked Heat landed LeBron

Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports:

“I hit up LeBron [on Tuesday] night and I told him I’m looking at ESPN and I see his name scroll on the bottom and it says ‘Miami Heat forward LeBron James.’

“I just said, ‘Man, it’s crazy.’ And he said, ‘Yeah, I just saw the same thing.’ ”

Behind his cool countenance, Wade feels every bit as exhilarated as the most fanatical of Heat fans. And he’s intoxicated by the possibilities of what this threesome can achieve.

“It’s beyond exciting,” he said. “I don’t think we even really know how excited we’re going to be.”

Celtics sign Jermaine O’Neal

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have signed center/forward Jermaine O’Neal. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“Jermaine provides veteran leadership and experience,” said Celtics President of Basketball Operations, Danny Ainge. “His talents are an excellent complement to our core roster.”

O’Neal, a 6’11” center/forward, has appeared in six all-star games and has been named to three All-NBA teams. The product of Eau Claire High School in South Carolina has posted career averages of 14.2 points and 7.5 rebounds to go along with 1.9 blocks over his 14 year career with Portland, Indiana, Toronto and Miami. He posted a career-high field goal percentage of 52.9% last season with Miami.

“When the opportunity arose for me to join an organization like the Celtics, I could not refuse,” said O’Neal. “I cannot wait to get to Boston and start to practice with the rest of the team in pursuit of a championship.”

Magic sign Quentin Richardson

The Orlando Magic have signed free agent guard/forward Quentin Richardson, General Manager Otis Smith announced today. Per team policy, terms of the deal are not disclosed.

“Quentin (Richardson) is a solid perimeter defender and brings an element of toughness,” said Smith. “At the same time, he also is a tremendous shooter from long range, which fits our style of play very well. We’re excited to add him to our team.”

Richardson (#5, 6’6”, 228, 4/13/80) played in 76 games (75 starts) last season with Miami, averaging 8.9 ppg., 4.9 rpg. and 1.2 apg. in 27.4 minpg. He also appeared in five postseason contests, averaging 9.8 ppg., 3.8 rpg., 1.6 apg. and 1.60 stlpg. in 29.8 minpg. Richardson shot a team-best .397 (142-358) from three-point range, which tied for 21st in the NBA. He scored in double figures 28 times and had seven 20-point outings, including a season-high 25 points on Mar. 4 vs. the L.A. Lakers. Richardson led (or tied) the team in scoring once, in rebounding 12 times and in assists once.

Originally selected in the first round (18th overall) by the L.A. Clippers in the 2000 NBA Draft, Richardson has appeared in 677 career NBA regular season games with the L.A. Clippers, Phoenix, New York and Miami, averaging 11.2 ppg., 5.0 rpg. and 1.6 apg. in 28.0 minpg. He has shot .359 (1,082-3,017) from three-point range during his career. Richardson has also played in 20 career playoff outings, averaging 11.4 ppg., 4.8 rpg., 1.6 apg. and 1.35 stlpg. in 35.6 minpg., while shooting .394 (41-104) from three-point range.

Heat trade Michael Beasley to Timberwolves

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the team has acquired 6-9 forward Michael Beasley from the Miami Heat in exchange for the Wolves’ second-round picks in the 2011 and 2014 NBA Drafts and cash considerations.

“We felt Michael had two very good years in Miami,” said HEAT President Pat Riley. “We feel he will have a very productive career, and wish him nothing but the best as he moves on.”

Beasley, 21, was the second overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft. An NBA All-Rookie First Team selection following the 2008-09 season, Beasley averaged 14.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.0 steals in 78 games (all starts) for the Heat during the 2009-10 campaign. In his two NBA seasons, Beasley owns career averages of 14.3 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 159 career games.

A unanimous First Team All-American and the Big 12 Player of the Year following his lone season at Kansas State, Beasley averaged 26.2 points, 12.4 rebounds 1.64 blocks, 1.27 steals and 1.2 assists in 33 collegiate games.

Beasley was also named the National Freshman of the Year by both The Sporting News and the United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA), and also received the Pete Newell Big Man of the Year award from the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC).

Beasley led the nation in rebounding and ranked third in scoring during his one season with the Wildcats.

Heat re-sign Udonis Haslem

The Miami Heat announced today that they have re-signed forward Udonis Haslem. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed. We’ll post contract info later today.

“I am excited to be back,” Haslem said. “It’s a great opportunity to win. Miami has always been my home, and I’m happy I can play here for years to come.”

Haslem has appeared in 517 career games (386 starts) with the Heat over seven seasons. During his career, all with Miami, he has averaged 10.0 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 30.9 minutes while shooting 49.9 percent from the field and 76.3 percent from the foul line. He ranks second in Heat history in games played and defensive rebounds (3,118), third in total rebounds (4,177) and double-doubles (121), and fourth in field goal percentage (.499), offensive rebounds (1,226), starts and minutes played (15,986).

He has led the Heat in total rebounds and defensive rebounds in each of the past five seasons, and has led the team in offensive rebounds and rebound average in each of the last four seasons. He has also served as the team captain for the last three seasons, and along with teammate Dwyane Wade, are the only Heat players remaining from the 2006 championship team. He and Wade are also the only two Heat players to play together for at least seven seasons.

During the 2009-10 season, Haslem came off the bench in each of the 78 games in which he appeared, averaging 9.9 points, a team-leading 8.1 rebounds and 27.9 minutes, while shooting 49.4 percent from the field and 76.2 percent from the foul line. He led the NBA in double-doubles off the bench with 21 and led the Heat in offensive rebounds, defensive rebounds and total rebounds.

Haslem was not drafted by the NBA out of college. He was originally signed by the Heat as a free agent on August 6, 2003. He then re-signed with the club on August 2, 2005.

Derek Fisher will stay with Lakers

Ramona Shelburne of ESPN Los Angeles reports:

Derek Fisher has decided to stay with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Credit Kobe Bryant with the assist.

“I have decided to continue with Kobe, continue with our teammates and the fans of Los Angeles,” Fisher said in a statement. “While this may not be the most lucrative contract I’ve been offered this offseason, it is the most valuable. I am confident I will continue to lead this team on and off the court. Let the hunt for six begin.” …

“Kobe Bryant asked me to stay but supported whatever decision I made. He and I have played together for 11 seasons, came into the league together as kids, and has been loyal to me even when others had doubts. We have won five championships together.”

Cavaliers will not push tampering charge

Marc Stein of ESPN reports:

The Cleveland Cavaliers have no plans to push for an NBA probe into the circumstances that led to LeBron James joining Team USA colleagues Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami, according to sources with knowledge of the team’s thinking.

NBA commissioner David Stern said Sunday that the league would investigate the Heat’s signings of James and Bosh for any illegal negotiating or planning before free agency officially started if the Cavaliers or Toronto Raptors make that request.

Reached Sunday by ESPN.com, Stern said: “Whenever a team lodges a tampering charge, it is investigated.”

The Cavaliers declined official comment Sunday, but one source briefed on Cleveland’s intentions told ESPN.com that — in the wake of owner Dan Gilbert’s vitriolic open letter to Cavs fans that slammed James for leaving his home-state team — the organization wants to try to keep the focus from here on its post-James future as much as possible.

Bulls have no negative words for LeBron

John Jackson of the Chicago Sun-Times reports:

Like other teams in other cities, the Bulls went all-in to try to get LeBron James and suffered a major setback when James decided to join the Miami Heat to form the Bigger Three with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

But unlike some of those other spurned teams — especially the Cleveland Cavaliers — the Bulls had no harsh words for James and offered no regrets about any decision they made in the free-agent process.

”In our dealings with [James], he was terrific,” general manager Gar Forman said. ”He was professional, we really enjoyed the time we had to spend with him and there was nothing [negative].”

Raptors sign-and-trade Chris Bosh to Heat

The Toronto Raptors announced Friday they have acquired two first-round draft picks and a trade exception from the Miami Heat in exchange for forward Chris Bosh. The Raptors facilitated a sign-and-trade with Bosh.

InsideHoops.com will post details of Bosh’s contract this weekend.

“We all just witnessed an unprecedented moment in professional sports as these three young stars have joined forces in an attempt to completely transform this league. We are certainly sorry to see Chris leave, but we are planning to use these acquired assets to retool our roster and evolve as an organization,” said Raptors President and General Manager Bryan Colangelo.

The Raptors reacquired their own 2011 first-round pick originally sent to the Heat on February 13, 2009 (trade of Jermaine O’Neal and Jamario Moon for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks) and Miami’s 2011 first-round draft choice (lottery protected).

Bosh was selected fourth overall by Toronto in the 2003 NBA Draft. He has career averages of 20.2 points, 9.4 rebounds, 1.2 blocks and 37.0 minutes in 509 games, including 497 starts. He is the all-time franchise leader in points (10,275), total rebounds (4,776), offensive rebounds (1,369), defensive rebounds (3,407), free throws made (2,997), blocks (600), minutes (19,813), games started (497) and double-doubles (239).