Category: Miami Heat Blog

The Miami Heat announced today that General Manager Randy Pfund has resigned from his duties with the Heat to pursue other business opportunities.

“Randy Pfund has done a tremendous job for the Heat, helping to build this team into a Champion,” said Riley. “His work ethic and contributions to the organization have been invaluable. I’ve known Randy for over 20 years and in addition to our great working relationship he has been a wonderful friend to both Chris and me and our family. On behalf of the Arison family and my family, I would like to wish him continued success and happiness in everything he does.”

Statement from Pfund: “I would like to thank Micky & Madeleine Arison and Pat & Chris Riley for the opportunity to work for the HEAT these past 13 years; it’s been an incredible ride. Additionally, I want to thank Pat for all his support and friendship over these last twenty-something years. While I resign my position with the HEAT, I feel it’s the perfect time to pursue other opportunities within the NBA and I’m excited about my future. Over the years, Pat and I have stood side-by-side through the ups and downs of many NBA seasons and on three championship occasions raised champagne glasses together. Lastly, I’d like to thank the HEAT Family, especially those in basketball operations who I worked with on a daily basis. I wish the HEAT nothing but success in the future.”

Pfund managed and oversaw all player personnel moves as General Manager for the previous 13 season, resulting in an NBA Championship and 10 postseason berths in the last 13 years, including a franchise-record six consecutive playoff appearances from 1996-2001. The Heat also claimed four consecutive Atlantic Division Championships from 1996-2000, three consecutive Southeast Division Championships from 2005-2007, and tied for the eighth most wins (566) in the NBA (third most in the Eastern Conference) from 1995-2008.

His negotiating skills and insight of the NBA and its players has been called upon to secure some of the best and brightest players in the NBA. Together with Riley, Pfund orchestrated several blockbuster trades and key free agent signings, the results of which landed the Heat NBA All-Stars Shawn Marion, Shaquille O’Neal, Eddie Jones, Antoine Walker, Gary Payton, Tim Hardaway and Alonzo Mourning, as well as Jason Williams, Lamar Odom and Brian Grant. With the drafting of Dwyane Wade, Caron Butler, Dorell Wright, Daequan Cook and Michael Beasley, in addition to the veteran acquisitions, Pfund helped re-structure the Heat’s roster with a balance of youth and experience while keeping Miami one of the top destinations in the NBA. Pfund also spent countless hours scouting the college, pro and European leagues for top athletes. His keen eye for talent brought in unheralded players like Udonis Haslem, Malik Allen, Rafer Alston, Bruce Bowen and Isaac Austin, all of whom have made key contributions to the Heat.

Pfund has worked in the league since 1985. His pro career began when Riley, who was head coach of the Lakers at the time, asked him to join his staff as an assistant coach. He held that position for seven years and helped the Lakers win a pair of NBA Championships in 1987 and 1988. In 1992, he succeeded Mike Dunleavy as the Lakers’ top man and posted a 66-80 mark in two seasons and led his 1992-93 team to the Lakers’ 17th consecutive postseason appearance.

The Palm Beach Post reports — Heat first-round draft pick Michael Beasley missed most of Monday’s first practice session after suffering a mild left groin strain. “Just a little sore,” coach Erik Spoelstra said when asked about Beasley’s injury. “Really precautionary. He started practice, did dummy offense and moved around a little.” Beasley was hurt during a five-on-five drill. He watched from the sideline along with fellow forward Udonis Haslem, who is recovering from a foot injury.

The South Florida Sun-Sentile reports — Beasley said he still finds himself deferring to the veterans during drills. “I’m a little hesitant sometimes, because we’ve got guys like Dwyane and Shawn Marion and U.D.,” he said. “But Dwyane told me to play my game, don’t think about nothing, don’t think about too much.”

The Miami Heat announced today that they have mutually agreed with forward Kasib Powell to withdraw the qualifying offer that was extended to Powell, immediately making him an unrestricted free agent. Powell was originally signed by the HEAT to a 10-day contract on Mar. 22, 2008. He was re-signed for the remainder of the season on Apr. 8. In 11 games with Miami (four starts) last season he averaged 7.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.82 steals and 27.6 minutes.

Michael Beasley of the Miami Heat has been fined $50,000 for his involvement in an incident at the league’s Rookie Transition Program earlier this month, and for his initial failure to cooperate with a league investigation of the matter.

Beasley was involved in the same incident for which Miami’s Mario Chalmers and Memphis’ Darrell Arthur were previously fined.

UPDATE: The Palm Beach Post (Chris Perkins) reports: “According to NBA sources, Beasley was in a hotel room with Chalmers, Arthur and two women when the incident took place, but he might have been hiding. The incident occurred when hotel security investigated a smoke alarm going off. When they used a pass key to enter the room, they smelled marijuana. No drugs were found, and Chalmers and Arthur denied using any. Beasley intially was cleared by the NBA, but apparently came forward later.”

The Miami Heat announced today that they have requested waivers on forward Stephane Lasme. The 6’8” forward was originally signed to a 10-day contract by the HEAT on Mar. 21, 2008. He was signed for the remainder of the 2007-08 season on Apr. 10. In 16 games (four starts) last season, Lasme averaged 5.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.38 blocks and 18.9 minutes. Lasme was originally the 46th overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft by the Golden State Warriors for whom he appeared in one game last season before being waived on Nov. 17.

InsideHoops.com editor says: I think Lasme is good enough to land 10-day contracts here and there, and maybe the occasional non-guaranteed deal, but he’ll have to keep improving and really prove himself worthy of a contract that lasts a while. I like him as a player.

The Miami Heat announced today that they have signed free agent center Jamaal Magloire. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed. According to multiple reports it’s either for the league minimum, or close.

Scroll down for InsideHoops.com’s opinion on the news.

“We are very fortunate to be able to come to terms with Jamaal Magliore,” said HEAT President Pat Riley. “We feel that he will dramatically support our post position. He is an excellent rebounder with a big body. On the defensive end he will plug up the paint and the offensive end he can score. We feel that this is definitely the right place for him to re-energize his career.”

A former NBA All-Star (2004), Magloire has averaged 8.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.03 blocks and 24.2 minutes during an eight-year NBA career which has included stints with the Hornets (Charlotte: 2000-02 and New Orleans: 2002-05), the Milwaukee Bucks (2005-06), the Portland Trail Blazers (2006-07), the New Jersey Nets (2007-08) and the Dallas Mavericks (2007-08). In his 537 NBA regular season games he has connected on 47.9 percent of his field goal attempts. Additionally, Magloire has appeared in 36 postseason contests and has averaged 9.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.11 blocks while hitting 47.7 percent of his field goal attempts.

Four times in his career the 6’11”, 265-pound center has appeared in all 82 games during a season and five times in the past seven seasons he has played at least 81 games. His best season occurred during the 2003-04 campaign with the New Orleans Hornets where he was selected as an Eastern Conference All-Star and averaged career highs in both points (13.6 ppg) and rebounds (10.3 rpg) and was one of just 11 players in the NBA that season to average a double-double. He topped the Eastern Conference in scoring in the 2004 NBA All-Star Game with 19 points. Magloire finished the 2003-04 season ranked among the NBA leaders in offensive rebounding (5th), overall rebounding (7th) and field goal percentage (tied for 27th).

Magloire split the 2007-08 season between the New Jersey Nets and the Dallas Mavericks. He saw action in 31 games (two starts) and averaged 1.8 points, 2.9 rebounds and 9.2 minutes.

InsideHoops.com editor says: Magloire is worth a shot. For whatever reason he seems to have gotten worse almost each season since his All-Star year. But he’s worth adding for the minimum. Mark Blount, who isn’t very good, is still the better center right now. It would be a pleasant surprise for the Heat if Magloire can overtake him. And there’s a chance that power forward Udonis Haslem winds up getting used as an extremely undersized center. I actually would enjoy seeing that; Haslem at center, Mike Beasley at power forward, Shawn Marion at small forward, playing fun small-ball. If the other team’s center is especially big and good then they could sit Haslem quickly, or slide him to the four quickly, and put in a real center. Anyway, Magloire is a low-risk addition.