Udonis Haslem has left ankle surgery

The Miami HEAT announced today that forward Udonis Haslem underwent ankle arthroscopy and debridement surgery to remove a large bone spur in his left ankle today.

The procedure lasted 90 minutes and was performed by HEAT team physician Dr. Harlan Selesnick and assisted by Dr. Jim Losito at Baptist Doctors Hospital in Miami.

Haslem will be in a walking boot, then on crutches before beginning rehab. Haslem is expected to return to full basketball activity in mid-May.
 
Haslem has appeared in 49 games (48 starts) for the HEAT this season, averaging 12.0 points and 9.0 rebounds in 36.8 minutes per game.

Haslem, the team captain, has recorded a team-high 11 double-doubles this season while shooting 46.7 percent from the floor and 81.0 percent from the foul line.

Heat give Lasme a shot

The Miami HEAT announced today that they have signed forward Stephane Lasme to a 10-day contract. Lasme, a 6’8”, 215-pound forward, has appeared in 37 games (14 starts) with the Los Angeles D-Fenders of the NBA Development League averaging 10.6 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.57 blocks while shooting 52 percent from the field in 29.0 minutes of action. He leads the team in rebounds (276) and blocks (95) and is second in minutes played (1,072), field goals made (140), free throws made (113) and steals (38).

At this point the Heat just have to consider the future, since this season was a horrible disaster. Lasme seems close to getting his foot firmly planted in the NBA. I think he definitely has the physical and athletic ability to stick around. He’ll probably fall in and out of the league and then eventually land a small but real deal as a backup on someone’s bench.

But for now, he gets to quickly try to impress the Heat.

Wizards-Heat team connections

Wizards forward Caron Butler was drafted by the Miami with the 10th overall pick in the 2002 NBA Draft.

As a rookie in Miami, Butler averaged 15.4 points per game and was named to the 2002-03 NBA All-Rookie First Team, but was later dealt to the Lakers in the trade that brought Shaquille O’Neal to South Beach.

Butler, 28, and Miami’s Dwyane Wade, 26, have been friends and rivals since their AAU days in the Chicago-Milwaukee area.

Washington’s Andray Blatche and Miami’s Dorell Wright attended the same Connecticut prep school, South Kent Prep, but missed playing together by a year.

Blatche played at South Kent in ‘04-‘05 during Wright’s rookie year with Miami.

Dwyane Wade has shock wave therapy on left knee

The Miami HEAT announced today that guard Dwyane Wade underwent shock wave therapy on his left knee yesterday. The procedure lasted 20 minutes and was performed by HEAT team physician Dr. Harlan Selesnick.

Wade will be limited to passive exercise for the first 30 days after which he can slowly return to basketball related activities. Wade initially had surgery on the left knee on May 15, 2007 and has been bothered by tendinitis in the knee.
 
Wade has appeared in 51 games (49 starts) for the HEAT this season, averaging a team-leading 24.5 points (5th in the NBA), a team-leading 6.9 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 1.71 steals in 38.3 minutes per game.

Wade, who made his fourth consecutive All-Star appearance earlier this season, has shot 46.9 percent from the floor, 28.6 percent from three-point range and 75.8 percent from the foul line.

Heat sign Bobby Jones to 10-day contract

The Miami HEAT announced today that they have signed free agent forward Bobby Jones to a 10-day contract. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Jones, a 6’7”, 215-pound forward, has appeared in 80 NBA games (seven starts) averaging 2.9 points and 1.5 rebounds while shooting 43.9 percent from the field in 8.6 minutes of action. During the current 2007-08 season, Jones appeared in four games with the Houston Rockets, nine games (two starts) with the Memphis Grizzlies and 23 games with the Denver Nuggets. Prior to that, during the 2006-07 season, Jones appeared in 44 games (five starts) with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Jones was originally drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the 37th pick in the 2006 NBA Draft. His rights were then traded to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for a second round pick in the 2007 NBA Draft and cash considerations. Jones played four seasons at the University of Washington appearing in 125 career games (106 starts) and averaged 9.8 points and 4.9 rebounds. He earned Honorable Mention All-Pac-10 honors as a senior and finished as the 20th all-time leading scorer in Washington history with 1,226 points while also ranking fourth all-time with 134 career steals.

Heat waive Smush Parker

The Miami HEAT announced today that they have requested waivers on guard Smush Parker.

No word yet on the exact buyout agreement, but we’ll post it here and on our rumors page when it’s known.

There is no guarantee Parker gets signed by another team. Not after such public disagreements with Pat Riley and Lakers coach Phil Jackson, two of the game’s most respected coaches.

Parker, who was signed as a free agent by the HEAT on July 27, 2007, appeared in nine games for Miami this season, averaging 4.8 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 20.3 minutes per game.
 
The HEAT roster currently stands at 14 players.

Dwayne Wade knee treatment will end season

The Miami HEAT announced today that guard Dwyane Wade will undergo OssaTron treatment (Shock wave therapy) on his left knee and is expected to miss the remainder of the 2007-08 season. The procedure which is non-surgical and will take approximately 30 minutes will be performed later this week. After the procedure is completed Wade will be limited to passive exercise for the first 30 days and after 30 days he can slowly return to basketball related activities. Wade initially had surgery on the left knee on May 15, 2007 and has been bothered by tendinitis in the knee.

With just 11 wins to go with their 50 losses, the Heat have the league’s worst record. Despite the pairing of Wade with the multi-talented Shawn Marion, acquired when the team traded Shaquille O’Neal, the Heat haven’t looked any better and have recently been getting blown out at home. There was simply no reason for Wade to keep playing hurt. He might as well take time, heal, get back to 100 percent health, and focus on a better next season.

So, we’re not surprised that his season is over.

Heat recall Daequan Cook and Joel Anthony from D-League

The Miami HEAT announced today that Daequan Cook and Joel Anthony have been recalled from the NBA Development League. Cook and Anthony were assigned to the Iowa Energy, the HEAT’s D-League affiliate on Feb. 27 and guided the club to a 2-1 record.

Cook appeared in three games (all starts) for the Energy, averaging 19.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.33 steals in 39.7 minutes of action. Additionally, Cook has appeared in 38 games (two starts) for the HEAT this season, averaging 7.2 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 19.5 minutes per game.

Anthony appeared in three games (all starts) for the Energy, averaging 8.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.00 blocks in 24.3 minutes of action. Additionally, Anthony has appeared in four games for the HEAT this season, and is averaging 7.8 minutes per game.

Cook and Anthony will join the HEAT in Atlanta today and be available to play the Hawks tonight at Philips Arena.

InsideHoops talks to Marcus Banks

After Wednesday’s Raptors at Heat game I talked with Miami guard Marcus Banks. Here’s a piece of it:

InsideHoops.com: Things didn’t go well for the team today, but at least you as an individual did well out there.

Marcus Banks: I felt decent. I would trade it in any day for a win, and see my guys on the team smile and have a good time. But an opportunity came today for me to knock down some shots and I did it in the minutes I played, and it’s simple as that.

InsideHoops.com: As you said, of course a win for the team is more important. Ideally, eventually you’ll step up like today and the win comes, too.

Marcus Banks: I’d love to get both. Get a win and a good game. That’d be even better. But sometimes, that’s the way the ball bounces. You got to live with it. Get up tomorrow and forget about it, go on and try to get the next one.

The rest is here.