Miami Heat waive rookie center Mickell Gladness

The Miami Heat announced on Tuesday afternoon that they had waived center Mickell Gladness. The move came in advance of the 6pm deadline for guaranteed roster spots. Gladness was one of three players to have non-guaranteed contracts, along with fellow rookie Terrel Harris and center Eddy Curry, both of whom the Heat are expected to hang on to.

Gladness appeared in six games for Miami this season, averaging 0.5 points in 3.5 minutes per game. His last game time came in mid-January, a Heat win over Philadelphia, but he scored his only basket of the season on New Years Day. That was his most productive game in the NBA, playing 9 minutes and coming away with 2 points, 4 rebounds 2 assists and a steal.

This move leaves Miami with 14 players on their active roster, meaning they now have a spot open. That could mean that the Heat are preparing to add a free agent, and the one name that comes to mind is Joel Przybilla. He played in 36 games for the Portland Trail Blazers and Charlotte Bobcats last season, averaging 1.8 points and 4.0 rebounds in 14.6 minutes per game.

The Heat can bring back Gladness after a 48-hour waiver period, with the ability to sign him on up to two 10-day contracts.