BY BARRY JACKSON
bjackson@MiamiHerald.com
Carlos Arroyo's efficient play, especially his good work as a late-season starter, has earned him a second season with the Heat. His return, long expected, was made official Thursday when the team formally announced he is now the 13th Heat player under contract.
``By re-signing Carlos, we feel we have accomplished another big step in adding to this team,'' Heat president Pat Riley said. ``Carlos showed last season that he was one of the most competitive and efficient point guards in the NBA and we are happy to have him back.''
Arroyo started 35 games last season -- including the final 21 of the regular season and all five playoff games -- and averaged 6.1 points, 3.1 assists and 22.0 minutes in 72 appearances.
He shot a career-high 47.5 percent from the field and 84.4 percent from the free throw line and finished second to New Orleans' Chris Paul in assist-to-turnover ratio, at 4.17 to 1.
Arroyo, who signed for the $1 million veteran's minimum, has appeared in 505 career games, including 148 starts, over eight seasons with the Nuggets, Raptors, Jazz, Pistons, Magic and Heat. Arroyo, who attended Florida International University, turns 31 on July 30.
Heat guard Dwyane Wade said this week that the starting point guard position is ``Mario Chalmers' job to lose,'' but Arroyo will challenge him.
The Heat can invite as many as 20 players to camp but can keep no more than 15. The final two roster spots likely will go to perimeter players. Free agent perimeter players still available include Jason Williams, Mike James, Anthony Johnson, Marcus Williams, Eddie House, Jerry Stackhouse, Larry Hughes and Michael Finley, among others.
AROUND THE LEAGUE
Timberwolves: General manager David Kahn, who acquired Michael Beasley from the Heat two weeks ago, told Minneapolis radio station KSTP: "He's a very young and immature kid who smoked too much marijuana and has told me that he's not smoking anymore, and I told him that I would trust him as long as that was the case.''
Kahn added of Beasley, "He had a very issue-free season last season in Miami."
In exchange for Beasley, the Heat received second-round picks in 2011 and 2014, plus cash considerations.
Friday, July 23, 2010
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Miller signs Heat deal, joins Wade, James and Bosh
By TIM REYNOLDS
AP Sports Writer
MIAMI -- By the time next season's NBA playoffs arrive, nine years will have passed since Mike Miller last enjoyed a postseason victory.
He's coming to Miami to change that.
Miller signed his long-awaited five-year contract with the Heat on Thursday, becoming the latest player to take less money than he could have made elsewhere to play for Miami. LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and Udonis Haslem all did the same in recent days, all with eyes on winning a championship.
"It's official!" Miller wrote on Twitter, thanking the Heat, owner Micky Arison and team president Pat Riley for making it happen.
After James, Bosh and Wade decided to team up, the Heat knew they needed a shooter to complement the All-Star trio, and that only raised Miller's stock in Miami. Riley met with Miller in the very first moments after free agency opened at 12:01 a.m. eastern time on July 1, sitting down with him in a Beverly Hills hotel room for a sales pitch unlike any other.
The Heat, Riley said that night, were going after James and Bosh to join Wade. And they wanted Miller to join the party.
Miller talked with at least four other teams after that, but in the end, nothing was going to change his mind about coming to the Heat.
"Pat had a vision for the team, a vision that he laid out with evangelical fervor," Miller's agent, Arn Tellem, wrote on his blog earlier this week. "We left the room converted."
The convert now has a contract, worth around $25 million. It was signed on the same day the Minnesota Timberwolves planned to introduce former Heat forward Michael Beasley to their fan base, which is more than coincidental. By trading Beasley for draft picks, that cleared the cap space Miami needed to sign Miller.
He agreed to the deal in principle late last week after James picked Miami. Some minor hangups in the contract process sparked speculation that Miller would go elsewhere, rumors that were proven unfounded.
Miller shot a career-best 48 percent from 3-point range last season with Washington, with career averages of 13.7 points and 5.1 rebounds.
James played a significant role in recruiting Miller to Miami, and in turn, that made Haslem's decision to stay much easier as well. Haslem and Miller have been close for many years, going back to their time together as Florida Gators.
"That's my college roommate," Haslem said earlier this week. "Our relationship is a lot deeper than just basketball. He's like Dwyane is to me, except we're just different colors. I would say Dwyane is my brother and I would say Mike is brother. Different backgrounds, obviously different races, but that's my brother."
Miami becomes Miller's fifth NBA team, after stints with Orlando, Memphis, Minnesota and Washington. He hasn't appeared in a postseason game since 2006, and has never played in the second round of the playoffs. The last time he was part of a playoff win was with Orlando in 2002; Miller's teams are 0-14 in postseason contests since.
AP Sports Writer
MIAMI -- By the time next season's NBA playoffs arrive, nine years will have passed since Mike Miller last enjoyed a postseason victory.
He's coming to Miami to change that.
Miller signed his long-awaited five-year contract with the Heat on Thursday, becoming the latest player to take less money than he could have made elsewhere to play for Miami. LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and Udonis Haslem all did the same in recent days, all with eyes on winning a championship.
"It's official!" Miller wrote on Twitter, thanking the Heat, owner Micky Arison and team president Pat Riley for making it happen.
After James, Bosh and Wade decided to team up, the Heat knew they needed a shooter to complement the All-Star trio, and that only raised Miller's stock in Miami. Riley met with Miller in the very first moments after free agency opened at 12:01 a.m. eastern time on July 1, sitting down with him in a Beverly Hills hotel room for a sales pitch unlike any other.
The Heat, Riley said that night, were going after James and Bosh to join Wade. And they wanted Miller to join the party.
Miller talked with at least four other teams after that, but in the end, nothing was going to change his mind about coming to the Heat.
"Pat had a vision for the team, a vision that he laid out with evangelical fervor," Miller's agent, Arn Tellem, wrote on his blog earlier this week. "We left the room converted."
The convert now has a contract, worth around $25 million. It was signed on the same day the Minnesota Timberwolves planned to introduce former Heat forward Michael Beasley to their fan base, which is more than coincidental. By trading Beasley for draft picks, that cleared the cap space Miami needed to sign Miller.
He agreed to the deal in principle late last week after James picked Miami. Some minor hangups in the contract process sparked speculation that Miller would go elsewhere, rumors that were proven unfounded.
Miller shot a career-best 48 percent from 3-point range last season with Washington, with career averages of 13.7 points and 5.1 rebounds.
James played a significant role in recruiting Miller to Miami, and in turn, that made Haslem's decision to stay much easier as well. Haslem and Miller have been close for many years, going back to their time together as Florida Gators.
"That's my college roommate," Haslem said earlier this week. "Our relationship is a lot deeper than just basketball. He's like Dwyane is to me, except we're just different colors. I would say Dwyane is my brother and I would say Mike is brother. Different backgrounds, obviously different races, but that's my brother."
Miami becomes Miller's fifth NBA team, after stints with Orlando, Memphis, Minnesota and Washington. He hasn't appeared in a postseason game since 2006, and has never played in the second round of the playoffs. The last time he was part of a playoff win was with Orlando in 2002; Miller's teams are 0-14 in postseason contests since.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Ilgauskas follows LeBron to Miami
By Sports Network
The Sports Network
Center Zydrunas Ilgauskas has apparently decided to join former Cavaliers teammate LeBron James in Miami.
The Plain Dealer of Cleveland reported Tuesday afternoon that Ilgauskas will sign with the Heat, citing the player's agent. The report said Ilgauskas will sign for the veteran minimum of $1.3 million.
Additionally, James posted an apparent confirmation on his Twitter account.
"Welcome Big Z," James wrote. "Glad u are joining me in South Beach my friend. Also thanks for the encouraging words big fella"
Ilgauskas had only ever played for the Cavaliers during his career. Cleveland selected the 7-foot-3 Ilgauskas with the 20th overall pick of the 1996 draft, but he did not make his debut until the 1997-98 season.
Ilgauskas went on to become the franchise's all-time leader in games played (771), offensive rebounds (2,336) and total rebounds (5,904). The 35-year-old averaged 13.8 points and 5.4 rebounds in his Cavaliers career, earning All- Star selections in 2003 and 2005.
The Cavaliers traded Ilgauskas to Washington this past February in the deal that sent Antawn Jamison to Cleveland. However, Ilgauskas never played for the Wizards after reaching a mutual agreement on a contract buyout, and returned to the Cavaliers in March.
He averaged a career-low 7.4 points and 5.4 boards in 64 games in 2009-10, when he primarily came off the bench in order for Shaquille O'Neal to start.
The Sports Network
Center Zydrunas Ilgauskas has apparently decided to join former Cavaliers teammate LeBron James in Miami.
The Plain Dealer of Cleveland reported Tuesday afternoon that Ilgauskas will sign with the Heat, citing the player's agent. The report said Ilgauskas will sign for the veteran minimum of $1.3 million.
Additionally, James posted an apparent confirmation on his Twitter account.
"Welcome Big Z," James wrote. "Glad u are joining me in South Beach my friend. Also thanks for the encouraging words big fella"
Ilgauskas had only ever played for the Cavaliers during his career. Cleveland selected the 7-foot-3 Ilgauskas with the 20th overall pick of the 1996 draft, but he did not make his debut until the 1997-98 season.
Ilgauskas went on to become the franchise's all-time leader in games played (771), offensive rebounds (2,336) and total rebounds (5,904). The 35-year-old averaged 13.8 points and 5.4 rebounds in his Cavaliers career, earning All- Star selections in 2003 and 2005.
The Cavaliers traded Ilgauskas to Washington this past February in the deal that sent Antawn Jamison to Cleveland. However, Ilgauskas never played for the Wizards after reaching a mutual agreement on a contract buyout, and returned to the Cavaliers in March.
He averaged a career-low 7.4 points and 5.4 boards in 64 games in 2009-10, when he primarily came off the bench in order for Shaquille O'Neal to start.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
