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Miami Heat sign Shannon Brown

The Miami HEAT announced today that they have signed guard Shannon Brown.

Brown, an eight-year NBA veteran, has appeared in 403 career NBA regular season games (58 starts) and averaged 7.7 points, 1.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 18.0 minutes while shooting 42 percent from the field, 33.1 percent from three-point range and 80.7 percent from the foul line. He split the 2013-14 season between the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks, appearing in 29 total games (one start) and averaging 2.2 points and 1.0 rebounds in 8.7 minutes of action while shooting 36.4 percent from the field. He scored a season-high 14 points, on 4-of-7 from the field and a perfect 6-of-6 from the foul line, in a 109-98 win vs. Brooklyn on April 15, 2014.

Brown, who won back-to-back NBA Championships with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2009 and 2010, has appeared in 55 career postseason games and averaged 5.2 points, 1.3 rebounds and 13.9 minutes while shooting 42.2 percent from the field, 34.1 percent from three-point range and 72.7 percent from the foul line.

He was originally drafted in the first round (25th overall) by Cleveland in the 2006 NBA Draft.

The HEAT’s roster now stands at 16.

Shabazz Napier still getting used to the feel of a pro basketball

Here’s the Washington Post blog reporting on a Miami Heat rookie:

Some might be tempted to scoff at Miami Heat rookie Shabazz Napier’s excuse for his poor NBA Summer League performance — the ball. Like many aspects of NCAA and NBA basketball, the actual ball is not the same, a lesson Napier is learning the hard way.

“[M]y biggest thing is getting comfortable with that basketball,” Napier told the Associated Press. “That’s one of my biggest problems and it’s kind of ironic, because it’s a basketball. But it’s different than a college basketball.”

Both NCAA and NBA basketballs measure 29.5 inches, but the materials can vary. In the NBA, regulation balls are composed of leather, while in college, the balls can be made of pebbled rubber. Napier’s problems might be compounded by him never having touched an NBA ball until the combine.

Mike Beasley remains available in free agency

Here’s the South Florida Sun Sentinel reporting on Miami Heat free agent forward Michael Beasley:

“I’ve grown,” he said. “Just like you can look back and say I did a lot of things I’m not proud of. Take it in stride, grow up and move on with life. So, I’ve grown. I’m more mature about situations.

“I’m definitely not as social as I used to be. That’s just because of trust issues. Just trust issues. I’m not going to get into all that. But I definitely don’t have as many friends as I used to have. That’s definitely by choice.”

He stressed that he lived alone, “me and the mosquitoes that bite me.”

Now he stands alone, again, for a second consecutive summer. He remains a scorer and a shooter, the league now left to decide whether he still is an NBA player.

A year ago, coach Erik Spoelstra said the mandate was basic for Beasley, “Embrace our culture. Embrace the routine. Embrace the work.”

Of course, what matters most is to be embraced in response.

Three weeks ago, Heat President Pat Riley said Beasley was “still a consideration.”

Instead, No. 8 belongs to another, the Heat seemingly having moved on. Again.

Loyalty helped Chris Andersen stay with Heat

Here’s the South Florida Sun Sentinel reporting on the Heat. Note that while loyalty probably was a factor, we have to assume that nice money was a factor. Anyway, here’s the Sun Sentinel:

Chris Andersen discusses why he stuck with Heat

Just as LeBron James cited going home as a reason for his free-agency return to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Chris Andersen said Saturday among the reasons he re-signed with the Miami Heat was because South Florida felt like home.

“It was definitely the loyalty from the fans and from the team,” said the Texas native who signed a two-year, $10.3 million contract with the Heat last month. “That had a big part of it. And it’s matter of me ending my career in a place that I’d be happy at and am familiar with.”

Andersen’s popularity was evident during his Saturday promotional appearance at the grand opening of the new Dick’s Sporting Goods location in Coral Springs, as he was mobbed by fans during an afternoon autograph session, with fans, including a few Birdman lookalikes, arriving before daybreak. The store’s supply of bracelets needed for his autograph was exhausted well before his arrival.

Miami Heat sign Reggie Williams

The Miami HEAT announced today that they have signed guard Reggie Williams.

Williams, a five-year NBA veteran, has appeared in 180 regular season career games (32 starts) averaging 8.5 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 19.7 minutes while shooting 46.0 percent from the field, 37.1 percent from three-point range and 74.3 percent from the foul line. The 6’6”, 210-guard has previously played in the NBA for the Golden State Warriors (2009-11), Charlotte Bobcats (2011-13) and Oklahoma City Thunder (2013-14). He enjoyed his finest NBA season as a member of the Warriors in 2010-11 when he appeared in 80 games (nine starts) and averaged 9.2 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 20.3 minutes while shooting 42.3 percent from three-point range, connecting on a career-high 102 three-point field goals.

He split the 2013-14 season between the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League and the San Miguel Beermen of the Philippine Basketball Association. He appeared in three games for the Thunder and averaged 3.7 points and 5.7 minutes. He also appeared in 25 games (21 starts) for Tulsa and averaged 20.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.9 assists while shooting 47.7 percent from the field, 35.9 percent from three-point range and 73.2 percent from the foul line. In 10 games (all starts) for San Miguel, Williams averaged 29.1 points, 9.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 44.8 minutes while shooting 48.3 percent from the field and 44.4 percent from three-point range.

Williams, who led the NCAA in scoring average in consecutive seasons (2006-07 and 2007-08) at Virginia Military Institute, went undrafted by the NBA upon graduation. After playing overseas in France for one season with JDA Dijon, he was drafted by the Sioux Falls Skyforce in the 2009 NBA Development League Draft. In his lone season with the Skyforce, Williams was named to the 2010 NBA D-League All-Star Team and earned All-NBA D-League First Team honors after averaging 26.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 40.0 minutes while shooting 57.6 percent from the field, 41.0 percent from three-point range and 82.4 percent from the foul line.

Miami Heat sign guard Tyler Johnson

The Miami HEAT announced today that they have signed guard Tyler Johnson.

Most recently, Johnson appeared in 11 Summer League games with the HEAT and averaged 12.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 22.2 minutes while shooting 54.8 percent from the field, 46.7 percent from three-point range and 81.4 percent from the foul line.

Johnson played four seasons at Fresno State University, appearing in 127 career games (87 starts) and averaged 10.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.10 steals and 27.9 minutes while shooting 45.6 percent from the field, 37.4 percent from three-point range and 71.6 percent from the foul line. He finished his collegiate career ranked No. 16 on Fresno State’s all-time scoring list (1,346 career points). As a senior, he was named to the All-Mountain West Second Team and shot 43.2 percent from three-point range, the sixth-highest single-season three-point field goal percentage in school history.

Video: Alonzo Mourning best career plays

Enjoy these video highlights of some of Alonzo Mourning’s best career plays:

Ray Allen still undecided about future

Here’s the Hartford Courant reporting on NBA veteran Ray Allen:

Ray Allen could play one more year in the NBA. He is wanted, and he knows it.

Or he could retire with no regrets, all business finished. All the years of solid play and diligent work at conditioning have put him, at 39, in this rare position — to script his own ending, and take his time doing it.

“I’m not in any rush [to make a decision],” Allen said during a break in the Citi Ray Allen Basketball ProCamp at East Granby High on Saturday morning. “I’ve played 18 years, and the way I look at my career, I’m content with everything that I’ve done. I just want to take this summer and see how it goes.”

Allen, an All-American who scored 1,922 points at UConn, is back in Connecticut doing his usual summer round of good works, including hosting this camp for 200 boys and girls in grades 1 through 12. Last week, his Ray of Hope Foundation provided a new computer lab for Ponus Ridge Middle School in Norwalk, something he has done for other schools across the state. On Monday, he will host his annual golf tournament, benefiting his foundation, at the TPC in Cromwell.

Miami Heat sign Shawne Williams

The Miami Heat announced today that they have signed forward Shawne Williams.

Williams, a six-year NBA veteran, has appeared in 251 career regular season games (36 starts) averaging 5.7 points, 3.1 rebounds and 17.1 minutes while shooting 40.3 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from three-point range and 73.3 percent from the foul line. He has appeared in four career postseason games and averaged 8.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.00 steals, 1.00 blocks and 25.3 minutes while shooting 41.7 percent (10-of-24) from the field, 42.9 percent (6-of-14) from three-point range and 75 percent (6-of-8) from the foul line.

He split the 2013-14 season between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angeles D-Fenders of the NBA Development League. Williams appeared in 36 games (13 starts) with the Lakers last season and averaged 5.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 20.9 minutes. He also appeared in 23 games (21 starts) with the L.A. D-Fenders and averaged 20.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.09 blocks, 1.7 assists and 31.5 minutes while shooting 45.6 percent from the field, 41.8 percent from three-point range and 80.6 percent from the foul line. He was named the NBA D-League Performer of the Week on March 17 after averaging 26.3 points, including a 34-point game at Canton on March 15 while helping the team to a perfect 3-0 week. Additionally, he appeared in two postseason games with the D-Fenders, totaling 22 points, 20 rebounds, seven assists, two steals and a block.

Williams was originally drafted in the first round (17th overall) by Indiana in the 2006 NBA Draft.

Heat likely keeping Justin Hamilton

Here’s the South Florida Sun Sentinel reporting on the Heat:

Center Justin Hamilton is poised to become the 12th player under guaranteed contract to the Miami Heat, when his partial guarantee kicks in Friday.

Hamilton, an outside-shooting 7-footer who finished last season with the Heat, has an $816,000 contract for 2014-15 that becomes 50-percent guaranteed if not waived on or before Aug. 1, and 75-percent guarantee if he is on the roster on Dec. 1. All NBA contracts become guaranteed for the season the second week of January.

“I think we’re probably going to move forward,” Heat President Pat Riley said. “We like Justin and what he’s done in the summer league, from that standpoint. There have obviously been discussions with Justin and his agent. So he wants to be here and we want him to be here.”

Because of his Croatian lineage, Hamilton has drawn interest from European teams. He spent part of the 2012-13 season in Latvia, after he was acquired by the Heat in the second round of the 2012 NBA Draft out of LSU, and then split this past season between the Heat’s NBA Development League franchise, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, and the Charlotte Bobcats and Heat.