Zydrunas Ilgauskas to sign with Heat, Juwan Howard on the way
Two more roster spots have now been claimed for the new-look Miami Heat.
Lebron James is now in full recruitment mode and has convinced longtime Cavs teammate Zydrunas Ilgauskas to sign with the Heat.
Ilgauskas’ agent confirmed the move to the Sun-Sentinel. He will sign with the Heat later this week for two years likely at $2.8 million, with a player option possible for the second season. The 7-3 center from Lithuania has played all 14 seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Juwan Howard also appears set to join the Heat at a veteran minimum contract. For old-school Heat followers, many will remember the infamous contract he signed with the Heat 14 years ago that was disallowed because it violated salary cap rules. Howard then had a change of heart immediately afterwards and returned to play for Washington instead.
Both contracts should be officially signed by the end of this week.
25 comments
This is great news for us. I was really starting to worry about who they would sign as a big man, knowing that UD and CB1? (is that what we are calling him now?) were simply not big enough to take on the other big men in the league. Now I guess the question is, who is left for the PG role? Chalmers is a consistent back up but i’m not convinced that he is ready for a starting role.
The team is definitely looking more solid with each signing.
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Jon Blaze Reply:
July 14th, 2010 at 4:09 pm
Agreed. They continue to add solid role players like Miller, Howard, and big “Z”. Look for them to upgrade at PG in the very near future and continue to add a few more vital pieces to the puzzle…
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Chalmers will be fine when he has wade & lebron to help him with ball handling. I don’t think the big man option is completely solved. Illgauskas is injury prone and even if not, he can’t play 48 mins leaving haslem or bosh to play center during parts of the game. I say a back up like Shaq or a breakout 2nd rounder that the heat drafted would be necessary. I believe the MAIN issue is 3 point shooting. Mike Miller & Chamlers are not enough. Raja Bell would be a nice addition and I know Singler has created some interest with his 3 shooting. But I’m sure they already know that and are working on it asap.
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Bonus Reply:
July 13th, 2010 at 9:34 pm
If a PG is needed, I’ve heard jason williams or andre miller are candidates…
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DboyAus Reply:
July 13th, 2010 at 10:17 pm
I don’t think Andre Miller will be willing to take the minimum, J Will on the other hand might..
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Andre Reply:
July 14th, 2010 at 2:41 pm
rem lebron or wade can bring the ball up court now that they’re are three guys on the team that could create they’re own shot
Pretty sure Andre Miller isn’t a FA, so yea, not happening.
As a Cavs fan, I can respect Big Z chasing that ring. He did his time. He didn’t give the organization crap. He’ll be done after this season. Chase it big guy.
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I would love for the Heat to bring back J-Will. Shaq as a backup would also be great. Isn’t Eddie House a FA?
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Are you guys nuts? Shaq? No way! Wade doesnt need everyone writing they couldnt have won without Shaq. Hes too slow. Hes too overweight? And he creates too much drama
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Shaq Fan Reply:
July 14th, 2010 at 7:30 am
No one would write that he could not win without Shaq…. Shaq would only be there the first two years….They will win plenty more win he leaves
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Good point on J wills, it would be nice to have him back at pg… That would be a great starting lineup…
C- Illgauskas PF- Bosh SF- Lebron James SG- D Wade PG- J Wills
Bench: Pittman (other second rounders), Juwan Howard, Mario Chalmers, Raja Bell, etc…thats just scary
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I love it when a plan comes together…
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Don’t underestimate a vet like Juwan. If you are, clearly you didn not see him in the playoffs with the Blazers.
Vets aren’t fast and agile, but Juwan, like Rasheed, can give fits on defense just from his experience and “street smarts”. Vets know how to swipe, annoy, space, push, dig, test, and outsmart the younger opponents.
I love it. Bring on Juwan.
+6 fouls to give =D
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you forgot mike miller was shooting 3 pointers at 48% the man is a sharp shooter our roster is filling in nice and bell is orignally from down here so i see him comin along for this historic journey
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The keys to the Heat winning it all will be finding a consistent 3 point shooter(s) and defenders in the paint. Z will bring size and shooting but not a shutdown defender. Pittman has the girth and could be a steal. Vornado needs to add some of Pitmans baby fat he still has but he is a monster shot blocker. You add Butler coming off the knee surgery with an NBA body and Hasbrouk lighting it up in Summer League. WOW. You get a Howard for leadership and depth and this will be a deep team. One other thing….bring back SHOWTIME!!!! RUN, TRAP, RUN, and RUN some more. Play up tempo with an in your face defense. Do not want to see half court sets with these thorougbreds!!!
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Is Mike Miller coming or not? I am scared of the Heat if it is just the Big Three, but I am terrified of the a team with Wade, James, and Bosh if they add Mike Miller.
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the heat are building there team perfect howard would not bring in leadership to a team with Wade and Lebron come on now he will just be a piece in a big man rotation
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For outside shooting James Jones looks possible too. I know last year was down for him but he still managed 41 percent on 3′s. Didn’t he lead the league in 3 pt percentage in ’07 – ’08?
And I love the idea of J-Will, a very smart player. Love Big Z as well. No Shaq.
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Shaq! add shaq and you instantly have the funnest team around. people seem to forget that t-mac is still available. T mac could easily play the 2 and let wade run the team from the pg position. None of these guys are going to consistently be the pg anyway. And you can never have too many ball handlers. J wills would be a good fit as well, but if i had to choose I’m t mac all day. Yea he may not be a 30 point guy anymore, but he is a solid role player if he chooses, and a sure upgrade from jason williams
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can anyone imagine (like i am) j-wills returning back to his “White Chocolate” days! remember when he would just throw the ball near the rim and someone would go get it? man i would love to see that again.
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There is no way T-Mac could fit in this team you already have three guys who will look to score when called, i rather see J Will be a distributor for these guys. With him and chalmers competing for the PG spot. T-Mac only chance would be to come of the bench and be lights out but i cannot see him signing on the cheap.
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The heat should move Lebron to PG and start Da’sean Butler during the second half of the season at SF.
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What it could be?
Chalmers 6-13 20 Points final game vs. Boston… That’s decent. Hopefully it carries on.
Chalmers / J Will / Shannon Brown / Allen Iverson
D-Wade / T-Mac / Mike Miller
Lebron James / Haslem
Bosh / Juwan Howard
Shaq / Big Z / Draft Center
2 other draft players
16 players will be cut down to 8 in the playoffs
————————————-
Chalmers
Wade
Lebron
Bosh
Draft Center
———-
Big Z
Shaq
Haslem
Mike Miller
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You all forget that none of these players will touch the ball. They’re only good for defense. Only the 3 kings will get to shoot. The other 2 on the court are like referees — they only get to touch the ball when something’s not right. The Heat are doomed to failure by having 3 of the greatest ball-hogs in history.
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lmfao ball hogs you must not watch them play they all average good amount of assist pay close attention
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