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Heat waive Beno Udrih

The Miami HEAT announced today that they have waived guard Beno Udrih. It was a contract buyout, as agreed to by the player and the team.

According to the South Florida Sun Sentinel, “the amount of Udrih’s buyout agreement is believed to be enough just to accommodate Johnson’s contract, a nominal amount, in the $50,000 range. However, if Udrih is claimed off waivers, the Heat then would immediately gain enough room below the luxury-tax ceiling to add at least one more player.”

Udrih appeared in 36 games (five starts) with the HEAT this season and averaged 4.4 points, 2.5 assists, 1.8 rebounds and 16.3 minutes while shooting 43.4 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from three-point range and 88.2 percent from the foul line. He was originally acquired by the HEAT, along with Jarnell Stokes, via trade with the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for Mario Chalmers and James Ennis earlier this season on November 10.

Heat, Beno Udrih may agree to contract buyout

The Miami Heat (33-26) were getting 4.4 points and 2.5 assists in 16.3 minutes per game from backup guard Beno Udrih before he suffered a season-ending injury. Now, the Heat and Udrih may agree to part ways. Here’s a report from The Vertical:

The Miami Heat are nearing agreement with guard Beno Udrih on a contract buyout to offset the salary and luxury-tax implications of signing Joe Johnson, league sources told The Vertical.

The Heat approached Udrih’s representatives late last week about a possible buyout and discussions progressed over the weekend, sources said. Ultimately, the choice to settle for a buyout or be released outright rests with Udrih.

Heat sign Joe Johnson

The Miami HEAT announced today that they have signed seven-time NBA All-Star Joe Johnson.

Johnson is one of only five players in NBA history to record at least 18,000 points, 4,500 assists, 4,000 rebounds and 1,500 made three-point field goals. With his addition to the HEAT roster, Miami now features 38 total All-Star appearances, the most in the NBA.

Johnson has appeared in 1,119 career games (1,049 starts) and averaged 17.0 points, 4.2 assists and 4.1 rebounds while shooting 44.1 percent from the field, 37.1 percent from three-point range and 80.1 percent from the foul line. Earlier this season, he hit the game-winning three-point shot in a 105-104 win vs. Denver on February 8, and has now hit the game-tying or game-winning shot nine different times in his career (with one second or less remaining), the third-most by any player since he entered the league, fourth on that list is Dwyane Wade with seven. Additionally, Johnson and Wade now become the only active players in the league to each score at least 18,500 career points on the same roster.

Johnson appeared in 57 games (all starts) with the Brooklyn Nets this season averaging 11.8 points, 4.1 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 33.9 minutes while shooting 40.6 percent from the field, 37.1 percent from three-point range and 85.2 percent from the foul line. He led the team in three-point field goals made (85) and finished second in three-point field goal percentage. The 15-year veteran has appeared in the playoffs 10 times over his career, totaling 87 postseason games (81 starts) averaging 17.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists while shooting 42.6 percent from the field, 34.9 percent from three-point range and 77.3 percent from the foul line.

Joe Johnson will reportedly join Heat

Small forward Joe Johnson averaged just 11.8 points on 40.6% shooting this season for the Brooklyn Nets, plus 3.9 rebounds and 4.1 assists per outing. His career is winding down. Still, he’d make a terrific addition to just about any team that wants him as a member of the supporting cast. Here’s the Akron Beacon Journal reporting:

Six years later, the Cavaliers have reportedly lost out on another free agent to the Miami Heat. This one, however, doesn’t sting nearly as much.

Joe Johnson will join the Miami Heat after he clears waivers Saturday night, according to multiple reports. The soon-to-be free agent guard was considering the Cavs, but has chosen South Beach instead. Yahoo Sports reported Johnson chose the Heat for the chance to start and play meaningful minutes.

LeBron James, who also spurned Cleveland for Miami in 2010, confirmed earlier Friday the Cavs had interest in Johnson, but stopped short of saying he would reach out to him.

Beno Udrih out three months after foot surgery

Miami Heat guard Beno Udrih underwent surgery to repair a torn plantar plate in his right foot. The one hour, 45-minute procedure was performed by HEAT team physician Dr. Harlan Selesnick and Dr. Thomas San Giovanni at Miami Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Institute at Doctors Hospital. He is expected to miss three months.

Udrih has appeared in 36 games (five starts) with the HEAT this season averaging 4.4 points, 2.5 assists, 1.8 rebounds and 16.3 minutes while shooting 43.4 percent from the field. He was originally acquired by the HEAT, along with Jarnell Stokes, via trade with the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for Mario Chalmers and James Ennis earlier this season on November 10.

Beno Udrih needs foot surgery, out three months

Miami Heat guard Beno Udrih will undergo surgery for a torn plantar plate in his right foot and is expected to miss three months.

Heat trade Brian Roberts to Trail Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers have acquired guard Brian Roberts and a future second-round pick from the Miami Heat in exchange for cash considerations, it was announced today by president of basketball operations Neil Olshey.

“Brian is an experienced player and a quality person,” said Olshey. “He has a skill set we value and fills a positional need as we head into a critical time in the season.”

In four seasons with New Orleans and Charlotte, Roberts, 30, is averaging 7.4 points (41.2% FG, 35.2% 3-PT, 91.9% FT), 1.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists over 252 games (57 starts).

Roberts (6-1, 173) was traded to Miami from Charlotte on Tuesday, and did not play for the Heat.

One of the league’s top shooters from the free throw line, Roberts has made at least 90 percent of his free throws in three of four seasons, including an NBA-best 94 percent in 2013-14.

Heat trade Jarnell Stokes to Pelicans

The New Orleans Pelicans have acquired forward Jarnell Stokes and cash considerations from the Miami HEAT in exchange for a future second round draft pick.

Stokes, 6-9, 255, has appeared in 26 career NBA games with Miami and Memphis, holding career averages on 2.5 points and 1.5 rebounds in 5.5 minutes per game. Stokes has appeared in 16 games this season for Miami’s D-League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, averaging 20.6 points on .673 shooting from the floor to go along with 10.2 points, 1.1 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.9 blocks in 30.9 minutes per game while earning a selection to the 2016 D-League All-Star Game in Toronto.

The Memphis native was selected with the 35th overall pick by Utah in the 2014 NBA Draft after a three-year career at the University of Tennessee.

Chris Bosh health update

The Miami Heat are 29-24 this season and getting a team-high 19.1 points per game from forward Chris Bosh. But lately Bosh has a health concern — and here’s ESPN.com with the latest:

Heat players and coaches have been in contact with Bosh in recent days. Guard Dwyane Wade suggested Wednesday that his teammate’s condition appears far less serious than when blood clots traveled to his lungs and ended his season days after the 2015 All-Star break.

“It’s not a health scare like it was last year at all,” Wade said after Wednesday’s practice. “None of us are overdoing it from that standpoint. So he’s fine. I’m not going to speculate anything. None of us are doctors. He’s in great spirits. He has a positive outlook on things. He’s showing us he’s in good spirits.”

Added former Heat teammate LeBron James: “Guy means so much to not only the Heat family but his personal family as well. Just a great guy, a professional, a great guy and for something like this to happen to him after he was cleared, it just sucks. It sucks big time. His health is the No. 1 care and obviously basketball comes secondary to what he’s going through right now. It’s just tough.”

Hornets, Grizzlies, Heat trade moves Courtney Lee to Charlotte

Charlotte Hornets General Manager Rich Cho announced today that the team has acquired guard Courtney Lee and cash considerations from the Memphis Grizzlies in a three-team trade. As a part of the trade, Charlotte will send forward P.J. Hairston and two second-round draft picks (Charlotte’s 2018 second-round pick and Brooklyn’s 2019 second-round pick) to Memphis and guard Brian Roberts to the Miami Heat. As part of the trade, Memphis will also receive forward/center Chris Andersen and two second-round draft picks from Miami.

“We are excited to be adding a quality veteran wing player to our roster in Courtney Lee,” Cho said. “Courtney has proven to be a team defender, a consistent outside shooter and a solid scorer in our league for the past eight years. Particularly in terms of experience, he adds depth to our roster in a position of need for us and we expect him to fit in to our system and contribute right away.”

The 22nd overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, Lee is in his eighth NBA season. He has played in 572 career games (332 starts) for the Magic, Nets, Rockets, Celtics and Grizzlies. A Western Kentucky product, Lee has career averages of 9.7 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 27.2 minutes, while shooting .450 from the field (2106-4677), .383 from beyond the three-point line (587-1531) and .845 from the free-throw line (725-858).

Lee played in 51 games for Memphis this season, starting 37, with averages of 10.0 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 29.2 minutes. He shot .458 from the field (192-419), .370 from beyond the three-point line (51-138) and .826 from the free-throw line (76-92). Lee scored in double figures in 25 of 51 games and has hit multiple three-point field goals in 14 games this year.

“Chris Andersen was absolutely essential in our 2013 NBA Championship run,” said HEAT President Pat Riley. “We want to thank him for his contributions and we wish him nothing but the best, he will always be considered part of the HEAT family. Brian Roberts has been on our radar and we felt it was important to solidify our point guard position due to the injury of Tyler Johnson. We feel like we did that with the addition of Roberts and we would like to welcome Brian to Miami.”

Andersen (6-10, 245) holds career averages of 5.5 points (.533 FG/.653 FT), 5.1 rebounds and 1.47 blocks in 17.8 minutes in 663 games (31 starts) over 14 seasons with the Denver Nuggets, New Orleans Hornets (now Pelicans) and Miami Heat. The 37-year-old owns postseason averages of 5.4 points (.644 FG/.692 FT), 4.8 rebounds and 1.26 blocks in 17.0 minutes in 69 games for Denver and Miami.

A native of Long Beach, Calif., Andersen won an NBA Championship with Miami in 2013 and was instrumental in the Heat’s championship run, averaging 6.4 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.10 blocks in 15.2 minutes in 20 games and setting an NBA postseason record by shooting .807 (46-of-57 FG) from the field.

Hairston (6-6, 230) owns career averages of 5.8 points (.341 FG/.833 FT) and 2.4 rebounds in 17.5 minutes in 93 games (45 starts) in two seasons with Charlotte. The 23-year-old has averaged 6.0 points (.359 FG/.810 FT) and 2.7 rebounds in 19.5 minutes in 48 games (45 starts) for the Hornets this season.

After leading the University of North Carolina in scoring as a sophomore, Hairston joined the NBA Development League and became the first D-League player ever to be selected in the first round of the NBA Draft when Charlotte drafted him 26th overall in 2014. He averaged 21.8 points (.453 FG/.358 3P/.870 FT), 3.5 rebounds and 1.50 steals in 32.3 minutes in 26 games (15 starts) for the Texas Legends and was named to the 2013-14 D-League All-Rookie Second Team.

Roberts is in his fourth NBA season and his second with Charlotte. Roberts signed with the Hornets as a free agent on July 23, 2014, and saw action in 102 games with averages 6.1 points and 2.0 assists in 16.3 minutes per game. He holds career averages of 7.4 points, 2.6 assists and 1.5 rebounds per game in 18.5 minutes per game over the course of 252 contests (57 starts).