LAS VEGAS -- Shabazz Napier has signed his rookie deal with the Miami Heat.
Swingman Larry Nance
Jr. Jersey . Napiers deal got finalized Friday, hours before Miamis final
game of its summer league schedule. The point guard will make about $1.2 million
this season after being selected with the No. 24 overall pick in last months
draft. Obviously, it was never a question that Napier was going to get a deal,
but he said actually signing the contract was a significant moment. Hell return
to Miami on Saturday to begin getting ready for training camp that starts in
about two months. "Growing up, this is what you want to do," said Napier, who
sat out the summer finale against Cleveland. "You want to be part of a great
organization. Its always great to have that extra feeling of relief. I told my
family about it and its something we all will cherish." Napier, who led
Connecticut to this past seasons NCAA championship, becomes the 12th player
either signed or committed to the Heat for next season. "I spent a great deal of
time studying him in preparation for the draft and we liked his qualities: his
toughness, his competitiveness, his ability to play bigger in bigger moments,"
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said earlier this week after watching Napier during
the Las Vegas summer league. "He has a very good feel for the point guard
position but can also play off the ball. He will be a shooter in this league."
Earlier Friday, Miami completed the signing of forward Udonis Haslem to a
two-year contract that will pay him about $5.6 million. His deal was worked out
several days ago, and Haslem told the team he had no desire to leave his
hometown, anyway. "Udonis Haslem has been a fixture in Miami over the last 11
years," Heat President Pat Riley said. "Hes a team player, an encompassing
all-purpose player that would play just about any position or role in order to
win. Its been such a privilege and honour to have him with the organization and
Im so happy that he decided to come back." So in the week that followed the
departure of LeBron James back to Cleveland, the Heat have gone from two players
on the roster -- and only one of those with a guaranteed deal -- to having a
dozen. A formal announcement of an already-agreed-upon deal with reserve power
forward Chris Andersen is expected imminently, and All-Star forward Chris Bosh
may not be able to sign his new $118 million, five-year deal until he returns
from an international vacation and completes a physical. The Heat will likely
fill out the roster with free agents on minimum-salary deals, and have shown a
willingness in the past to wait until training camp nears for those last
signings. Haslem has spent all of his 11 NBA seasons with the Heat and is the
franchises career rebounds leader. He and Dwyane Wade are the only players to
appear on all three of Miamis championship teams. The Miami native opted out of
a contract that would have paid him $4.6 million next season to give the team
flexibility during free agency. Haslem averaged 3.8 points last season and has
averaged 8.6 points in 715 regular-season games over his career.
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Jersey . Last year, Islanders forward Colin Mcdonald released a "Do It For
Colin" campaign to promote his teammate and friend John Tavares for the EA
sports honour:The most popular sports voting video ever has to go to Chris Bosh
who showcased his comedic abilities in his effort to get fans to vote him into
the 2008 All Star Game:You can vote for TJ and other star players for the NHL 15
cover vote here.
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Jersey . -- Los Angeles Angels outfielder Josh Hamilton will be sidelined
for at least two weeks because of a strained calf muscle, and pitcher C.
http://www.prolakersonline.com/Vlade-Divac-Jersey/ . Knapp defeated American Alison Riske 6-3, 7-5 to secure Italys victory in the
best-of-five series. She held a 5-2 lead in the second set, only to let Riske
tie it at five.MIAMI - Dwyane Wade was on the basketball court early Wednesday
to take on a couple critics who thought it was a good idea to challenge the
Miami Heat guard.His kids lost.We played a lot of different games, Wade said. I
had to come back from behind in one of them.Their before-school backyard game
was on the court adorned in Marquette colours at their home, and itll be the
last time Wade plays in friendly surroundings for the next couple weeks. Wade
and the struggling Heat start a five-game trip in Portland on Thursday,
beginning a stretch that could help turn things around or just add to their
tailspin.The only thing I do know, Wade said, is it cant get any worse.Miami
(15-20) is clinging to the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference and this trip
isnt exactly filled with easy games. Portland (27-8) had the NBAs second-best
record entering Wednesdays action, and that game is followed by matchups against
the Los Angeles Clippers (currently 23-12), the Los Angeles Lakers (11-24),
Golden State (an NBA-best 27-5) and Sacramento (14-20).You dont want to come
back from this road trip and be 10 games under .500, Wade said.Thats his way of
saying what awaits is a challenge.A great challenge, Wade said. These teams are
playing very well and we havent played that well. So its time for us to go out
there and just play basketball and not have to worry about the pressure of
losing games at home. ... Now that goes away. Its not going to be easy at all,
but we can just focus on the game and whatever it takes to win..
Swingman Jamaal Wilkes
Jersey. Somewhat strangely, the Heat are better on the road (8-8) than at
home (7-12), which is one of the reasons why they are fighting this uphill
battle in the standings. They have shot a tiny bit better on the road than in
Miami so far this season, average nearly three more assists per game, one fewer
turnover and score at roughly the same clip.But even with LeBron James back in
Cleveland and this roster looking nothing like the ones that went to the last
four NBA Finals, Heat centre Chris Bosh thinks opponents still have Miami
circled as an important game.For sure, absolutely, Bosh said. Guys want to get
their just due, man.This trip is an annual tradition of sorts, coinciding with
the circus annual stop at Miamis home arena. It might not have the same cache as
San Antonios annual rodeo trip or the road swings that the Clippers and Lakers
make when theyre displaced from Staples Center by awards shows, but its been
valuable to Miami in the past.Bosh, Wade and coach Erik Spoelstra all spoke
Wednesday of the opportunity that Miami has on this trip to bond, since the team
will be together for nearly two full weeks.I want to bond and win, Bosh said. I
dont want to just bond.NOTES: The Heat recalled G Shabazz Napier from their NBA
Development League affiliate in Sioux Falls. ... Spoelstra said Miami made the
decision to waive G Andre Dawkins earlier this week for roster flexibility,
though cautioned that no move was imminent to fill the lone open spot on the
teams 15-player list.
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