Miami Heat Blog – Page 138 – NBA Blog

NBA will discuss issue of players resting

The AP reports:

David Stern says the issue of players resting at the end of the regular season will be discussed among NBA executives, though he doesn’t see anything coming of it.

The commissioner says he is “troubled by it, because it would be our preference that healthy players play,” but says the decision is one that has always been left up to the teams.

InsideHoops.com Says:

I totally understand NBA teams about to enter the playoffs wanting to make sure their key players are healthy for the post-season. But of course, fans who are paying big ticket prices for games want to see good action, and not the bench guys playing while star players barely break a sweat or sit out entirely. But that’s just how it is. Fans going to the last few games of the regular season simply need to know that depending on a team’s situation, a key star or two may not be out there.

Heat sign Shavlik Randolph

The Miami Heat announced today that they have signed free agent forward Shavlik Randolph. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Randolph, a 6’10”, 230-pound forward, has appeared in 94 career NBA games (seven starts) averaging 2.4 points, 2.4 rebounds and 8.1 minutes while shooting 44.5 percent from the field. He has appeared in five games this season with both Miami and Portland totaling six points, eight rebounds, one assist and one block in 29 minutes of action.

The Duke University alum was previously signed by the Heat as a free agent on September 28, 2009 and after appearing in two games, was later waived on December 14, 2009. He was then signed by Portland on December 30, 2009, appearing in three games for the Trail Blazers and was waived on January 6, 2010. Portland then signed Randolph to a 10-day contract on January 8.

Randolph will wear number 42.

Heat sign Kenny Hasbrouck for rest of season

The Miami Heat announced today that they have signed guard Kenny Hasbrouck for the remainder of the season. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Hasbrouck, a 6’3”, 195-pound guard, was previously signed by the Heat to a 10-day contract on March 16 and then was signed to a second 10-day contract on March 26. He has not appeared in a game for the team this season. Before signing with Miami, he appeared in 10 games (nine starts) with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA Development League averaging 16.9 points, 2.9 assists, 2.4 rebounds and 1.60 steals in 32.3 minutes of action, leading the team to a 7-3 record, while shooting 50.4 percent from the field, 38.1 percent from three-point range and 80.6 percent from the free throw line.

The Miami Heat is proud to welcome Assist Card as the Presenting Sponsor for the 2009-10 Heat season.

Heat plane diverted to Chicago

Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports:

The Miami Heat’s three-game road trip added one more city to the itinerary early Sunday morning, when the team plane was diverted to Chicago after a member of the flight crew became ill.

Team trainers tended crew member who lapsed into what appeared to be a diabetic coma. He then was transported to a hospital there before the flight from Saturday night’s 97-84 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves resumed.

The team charter plane eventually landed in Miami at 5:04 a.m., roughly an hour behind schedule.

Michael Wallace of the Miami Herald reports:

Heat guard Dwyane Wade sent out a message through his Twitter account at 1:27 a.m., asking for his followers to pray for the mechanic.

“Hey everyone pray for our pilot,” Wade wrote on Twitter. “We just had a emergency landing in Chicago. He went into a coma. God bless this man and his family.”

A Heat spokesman confirmed that the team’s plane landed about 1:30 a.m., about 90 minutes after its 11 p.m. scheduled departure from Minnesota. The team was waiting at the O’Hare airport as the mechanic was taken to a hospital. The team resumed its flight to Miami at 2:27 am.

Heat sign Alade Aminu to 10-day contract

The Miami Heat announced today that they have signed forward Alade Aminu to a 10-day contract. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Aminu, a 6’10”, 235-pound forward, has appeared in 46 NBA Development League games (31 starts) averaging 13.6 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.00 steals in 27.6 minutes of action while shooting 51.8 percent from the field. The 2010 NBA D-League All-Star split this season appearing in 37 games (22 starts) with the Erie BayHawks and most recently nine games (all starts) with the Bakersfield Jam where he posted averages of 19.3 points, 9.2 rebounds, 1.89 steals, 1.22 blocks, 1.1 assists and 33.1 minutes.

Undrafted out of Georgia Tech in 2009, Aminu played four seasons for the Yellow Jackets appearing in 105 games (26 starts) and averaged 6.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.00 blocks and 17.0 minutes while shooting 53.2 percent from the field. He finished his colligate career sixth in school history in blocks with 105.

Aminu was originally signed as a free agent by the Heat on September 28, 2009 and participated in training camp with Miami this season. He did not appear in a preseason game and was released on October 8, 2009.

He will wear number 34.

Heat sign Kenny Hasbrouck to second 10-day contract

The Miami Heat announced today that they have signed guard Kenny Hasbrouck to a second 10-day contract. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Hasbrouck, a 6’3”, 195-pound guard, was previously signed by the Heat to a 10-day contract on March 16 and has not appeared in a game for the team this season. Before signing with Miami, he appeared in 10 games (nine starts) with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA Development League averaging 16.9 points, 2.9 assists, 2.4 rebounds and 1.60 steals in 32.3 minutes of action, leading the team to a 7-3 record, while shooting 50.4 percent from the field, 38.1 percent from three-point range and 80.6 percent from the free throw line.

Nets CEO Brett Yormark snaps at bag-wearing fan

New Jersey Nets CEO Brett Yormark has a good reputation. But every once in a while, even the best executives are prone to get emotional, especially during an especially dismal season like this one. Here’s what went down in New Jersey Monday, as the team lost to the Miami Heat.

Julian Garcia of the New York Daily News reports:

With the Nets trailing 79-67 between the third and fourth quarters, Yormark left his courtside seat and passed Chris Lisi of Middletown, N.J., who was sitting in the second row and wearing a paper bag over his head. Yormark then walked back toward Lisi, and in full view of reporters and photographers got into a shouting match with Lisi and a pal.

As Yormark jabbed his finger toward Lisi as he shouted something, Lisi pulled out a pair of tickets and waved them back at the CEO, who then stomped away as security personnel approached.

A Yormark spokesperson said the executive had no comment regarding the incident, but Lisi claimed that Yormark had incited it by asking him why he had the bag over his head. When Lisi sarcastically answered, “Because the Nets are so good,” Yormark snapped at him. Neither Lisi nor his companion, who joined in the shouting match, is a season-ticket holder, and they seemed to be unaware of whom they were arguing with.

It’s probably best to chalk this one up to every human being needing to let some steam off once in a while.

Heat sign Kenny Hasbrouck to 10-day contract

The Miami Heat announced today that they have signed guard Kenny Hasbrouck to a 10-day contract, making him the 25th Gatorade NBA Development League call-up this season. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Hasbrouck, a 6’3”, 195-pound guard, has appeared in 10 games (nine starts) with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA Development League averaging 16.9 points, 2.9 assists, 2.4 rebounds and 1.60 steals in 32.3 minutes of action, leading the team to a 7-3 record, while shooting 50.4 percent from the field, 38.1 percent from three-point range and 80.6 percent from the free throw line. He scored a season-high 29 points at Bakersfield on March 6 and posted three consecutive 20-point games after scoring 20 vs. Springfield on February 26, 21 vs. Bakersfield on February 29 and then 24 at Springfield on March 1.

Hasbrouck was undrafted out of Siena College where he played four seasons appearing in 129 career games (all starts) and averaged 14.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.92 steals in 31.1 minutes while shooting 44.5 percent from the field, 37.6 percent from three-point range and 74.0 percent from the line. He became the third fastest player to reach 1,000 points in Siena Division I history and graduated as the school’s all-time leader in steals (248). The two-time MAAC tournament MVP had his number 41 jersey retired by Siena at a season ending banquet on April 27, 2009.

Hasbrouck will wear number 4.

Rafer Alston suspended by Heat for rest of season

The Miami Heat announced today that guard Rafer Alston has been placed on the suspended list and has been suspended for the remainder of the season.

He had already been suspended “indefinitely” by the team. But it has now been extended until the season is over.

“While we are aware, through media reports, of the personal issue that Rafer is going through, we still have not heard from him,” said Heat President Pat Riley. “As stated before, our thoughts and prayers go out to him and his family during this time, but we are at the point where we must move forward with the rest of the season during our playoff push. Therefore, we are placing Rafer on the suspended list and suspending him for the reminder of the season. We wish Rafer nothing but the best and thank him for his contributions.”

Alston appeared in 25 games (all starts) for the Heat this season averaging 6.6 points, 2.9 assists, 2.2 rebounds and 26.2 minutes.

Heat suspend Dorell Wright two games

Miami Heat President Pat Riley announced today that Dorell Wright has been suspended for two games for conduct detrimental to the team.

“This is out of character for Dorell, we feel he’s a good person and that he will learn from this mistake,” Riley stated.

Wright’s suspension will start with tonight’s game vs. Chicago and conclude with Sunday’s game vs. Philadelphia.

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports:

In the wake of his Thursday arrest in Miami Beach for driving under the influence and driving with a suspended license, Miami Heat forward Dorell Wright has been suspended without pay by the team for two games.

Wright missed Friday’s game against the Chicago Bulls at AmericanAirlines Arena and all will miss Sunday’s home game against the Philadelphia 76ers…

Wright, who played 22 minutes in Wednesday night’s 108-97 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers at AmericanAirlines Arena, was stopped at 3:37 a.m. Thursday in his 2005 Bentley for erratic driving.

Wright, 24, was cited after changing lanes without signaling, with the police report noting he was traveling 52 mph in a 35 mph zone on Alton Road. The report noted the California native nearly struck a taxi after changing lanes and then had difficulty putting his white Bentley in park.