Three players that were on the Heat’s radar are choosing other teams for bigger paychecks instead of the veteran minimum and the chance for a ring in Miami.

Raja Bell, the 33 year old former FIU star, is signing with the Utah Jazz, one of his former teams in a long NBA career. He signed a three year contract worth about $10 million which is far more than he could have signed here in Miami, though he had expressed a strong interest in playing for the Heat (even going so far as to say they were his first choice) earlier in the offseason before LeBron James and Chris Bosh were added to the roster. But with this contract in all likelihood his last one in his career the offers, including one from the Los Angeles Lakers, were out of the Heat’s price range. [Read more →]

Yet another contract has been signed today…

MIAMI,FL – The Miami HEAT announced today that they have re-signed center Jamaal Magloire. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“Re-signing Jamaal is a testament to his work ethic and his desire to win,” said HEAT President Pat Riley. “Over the past two seasons in Miami, he has been an asset to this team, in terms of being a role model for our younger players, with his professionalism and his strong locker room presence.”

Magloire has appeared in 628 career games (313 starts) over 10 seasons. He has averaged 7.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 0.94 blocks and 22.4 minutes while shooting 48.0 percent from the field and 64.5 percent from the foul line. He was named a reserve for the Eastern Conference for the 2004 All-Star game and was a one-time selection as Eastern Conference Player of the Month in April 2004.

During the 2009-10 season, Magloire averaged 2.1 points and 3.4 rebounds, while shooting 50.4 percent from the field in 23 games as a reserve. His 16.2 rebound average per 48 minutes was tops on the HEAT.

Magloire was originally signed by the HEAT as a free agent on Sept. 2, 2008 and re-signed again on July 22, 2009. The Canadian native was originally drafted in the first round (19th overall) of the 2000 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets.

It was an absolute nailbiter, but in voting that concluded Friday night, Miami Thrice beat out Three Kings as the winning nickname for the combination of Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh by one vote, 158-157.

In total, there were 1,569 votes, which is mindblowing in and of itself. That means that commenter “Simon” is the big winner, and earns himself a free shirt. So what’s the design, you ask? It’s pretty easy to guess, no?
[Read more →]

There’s been an unprecedented amount of commenting done around here over the last week and a half, so I’d like to take a moment to remind you that there are rules about commenting. There are people who are supportive of the Heat (who we welcome) and people who aren’t so supportive (who we welcome as well). But general rules of good manners should be followed. There is a commenting guide available on the left-hand side of the homepage, but just in case you’ve forgotten, here are the basic rules.

-Excessive profanity: One word carefully placed probably won’t hurt you, but a string of swears will require me to take it down.
-Slurs: Whether they be ethnic or based on sexual preference, this is a no brainer. It will be removed immediately.
-ALL CAPS: This isn’t so offensive, and I’ll probably let it slide, but seriously, don’t do it. It’s just annoying.

The only way this can be accurately policed is by self-policing. If someone is in violation, please e-mail me with a link to the comment. Please don’t e-mail because someone’s a Lakers fan and you don’t like them. However, if someone is violating these rules, it needs to be dealt with.

Thanks again for your cooperation, and thanks for participating here. It just needs to be done in the right way.

The Miami Herald is reporting that the Miami Heat have retained free agent sharpshooter and Miami native James Jones to a minimum contract for one year. After negotiating a buyout from his original contract with the Heat last month and being courted by other teams such as the San Antonio Spurs, he ultimately decided to take less money to play for his hometown much like Udonis Haslem did. Although Jones struggled throughout his first two years with the Heat which included a long layoff due to wrist surgery, he will have plenty of open looks at the basket from three-point range. [Read more →]

The Heat continue to churn out press releases announcing the official addition of yet another center:

The Miami HEAT announced today that they have signed free agent center Zydrunas Ilgauskas. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“As we continue to shape our roster, we have filled a key position with the addition of Zydrunas,” said HEAT President Pat Riley. “He is a two-time All-Star, a proven rebounder, and a great shot blocker. His place in NBA history is already clear, and we are pleased to be able to add a seasoned veteran of his caliber to our roster.” [Read more →]

With the first half between Miami and Milwaukee ending at a virtual deadlock after a hot first quarter by the Bucks on Friday night, Heat PG Patrick Beverley entered the game for the first time at the start of the second half and quickly set the tone for his teammates on both ends of the court to lead the Heat to an easy 78-58 victory and a 3-1 record so far in the Summer League tournament in Las Vegas.

Showing no side effects from a bruised left knee sustained in an earlier game, Beverley conducted the offense efficiently while shutting down Bucks guard Sun Yue en route to a 23-5 run and a 62-40 lead without a single field goal from the Bucks. Surprisingly, Beverley did all this despite missing his only field goal of the game. [Read more →]

The Miami Heat have released yet another press release today:

The Miami HEAT announced today that they have re-signed center Joel Anthony. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“This contract with Joel Anthony is a testament to the man who is second to none; who has worked hard and deserved this,” said HEAT President Pat Riley. “We felt that what he has done over the last couple of years in developing his game, his body and his knowledge warrants this reward. If other NBA non-drafted free agents want a prototype to follow, Joel Anthony is that man”

Anthony has appeared in 169 career games (45 starts) for the HEAT. During his three-year NBA career, all with Miami, he has averaged 2.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.38 blocks and 17.0 minutes, while shooting 47.8 percent from the field and 66.8 percent from the foul line. In his 45 career starts, he has averaged 3.5 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.58 blocks in 22.5 minutes. Anthony currently ranks tied for ninth place on the HEAT’s all-time blocked shots list with 233. He has also led the HEAT in blocks on 66 occasions.

During the 2009-10 season, Anthony appeared in 80 games (16 starts) and averaged 2.7 points, 3.1 rebounds, 1.36 blocks and 16.5 minutes, while shooting 47.8 percent from the field and 71.7 percent from the foul line. He ranked tied for 15^th place in the NBA in total blocks (109) and 18^th in blocks per game. He also recorded season-highs in games played, minutes played (1,322), points (218), field goals made (76) and attempted (159), free throws made (66) and attempted (92), offensive rebounds (123), defensive rebounds (126), total rebounds (249) and blocks, and led the HEAT in blocks on 30 occasions.

Anthony originally signed with the HEAT as a free agent on July 3, 2007, then re-signed with the club on July 20, 2009.

The Miami Heat have just released the following press release:

The Miami HEAT announced today that they have signed second round draft selection Dexter Pittman. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“One of our priorities in the draft was to make sure that we could augment the depleted center position with the loss of Jermaine O’Neal,” said HEAT President Pat Riley. “Dexter has the size and agility to be a very productive player for us in the long run, and there is no better place for him to improve than in the Miami HEAT system.”

Pittman, a 6’10”, 290-pound center, played all four seasons at the University of Texas appearing in 134 games (59 starts) and averaged 6.6 points and 4.0 rebounds while shooting 62.3 percent from the field and 60.1 percent from the foul line. He finished his senior season leading the team in both field goal percentage (.654) and blocks (63) while earning the team’s Most Improved Player honor as both a freshman and junior.

Pittman was selected by the HEAT with the 32^nd pick in the 2010 NBA Draft.

The final pieces of the Miami Heat roster are now falling into place with the official signing of Mike Miller, the expected return of Joel Anthony and Juwan Howard on the verge of joining the team as well.

Now comes word straight from the horse’s mouth that free agent Matt Barnes will decide very soon where he’ll play next:

2maro is the day. I will let my fans know where I’m going to sign. Its gonna SURPRISE you!!!! Keep it locked..

Ironically, the signing of former Heat forward Quentin Richardson by the Orlando Magic has paved the way for Barnes’ departure and perhaps yet another possible steal by Pat Riley to shore up even more depth. [Read more →]