Well, the skeptics can be silenced, the Heat will have 15 players on their roster after all. Funny thing is, there is expected to be more signings and the latest two still have to prove themselves to make the final roster. Neither contract is guaranteed unless they make the roster and stay on past January.
Kenny Hasbrouck showed himself to be an NBA-level player in the 2010 Summer League for the Heat while Shavlik Randolph, another retainee from last year’s Heat roster, showed he, too, was ready for another go with the Heat.
Hasbrouck, who had signed with the Heat late last season, was an offensive force for the Heat in Las Vegas this summer, averaging 13.6 points per game, 2.4 rebounds, and 2.4 assists. He is a bit undersized to be a two guard, but also lacks all the refined skills of a point guard. Still, he stands a very good chance to make this Heat team out of training camp because of the Heat’s depth up front and lack of options at the guard positions. That said, he can shoot – he shot about 50% from three point range helping to lead the Heat to a 4-1 record.
Randolph came out of Duke looking like a very skilled big man and was drafted by the 76ers. He never caught on in Philly, spending his first three seasons there, but ended up in Miami twice last season. (He signed with Heat only to be released and landed in Portland, but came back to Miami after being released from the Blazers.) Obviously motivated to play for this Heat team after adding the likes of RUN DLC, he averaged 13 points and 5.8 rebounds for the Heat in Las Vegas.
The Heat can carry as many as 20 players during training camp, which is slated to begin Sept. 28th and the first preseason game will be against Detroit on Oct. 5th. The likelihood of Randolph sticking may be harder because of all the front court depth the Heat now have.
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