Eddie House Returns to Miami Heat; Signs 2 Year Deal

Eddie House has returned, according to Adrian Wojnarowski (the hardest name to spell in sports journalism). He has signed a 2 year deal worth about $2.8M. Signing House puts the Heat’s roster at 16, which means they can sign up to 4 more players and carry them through training camp, which begins September 28th.

What does this mean? Most likely that Kenny Hasbrouck is on his way out or at the very least, in a very tough spot to land on the Heat roster permanently. Hasbrouck just signed yesterday, but his contract is not guaranteed unless he makes the final roster and stays on past January. This could also mean that the Heat could make a deal.

In House, the Heat get a “tweener” guard who can shoot and provide offense. His skill set seems very similar to Hasbrouck, although House was originally brought in here to Miami years ago to serve as offense at the guard position off the bench. He gets to come back to Miami and reprise that role.

Shavlik Randolph and Kenny Hasbrouck Sign to Round Out Heat Roster to 15

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.

Heat Roster Bursting: Signing More Veterans Quickly

Looks like the hits keep coming for the Miami Heat and did anyone really expect otherwise? If you have the foresight and ability to concoct a plan to land three of the most talented free agents in NBA history, don’t you think the mental fortitude would be there to build a team around them, too? If you believe the talking heads on tv, then you would surely be doubting this Heat franchise. And tragically so.

Here’s the latest – first they start the day off by completing deals for fellow Gators Mike Miller and Udonis Haslem. Now they are finalizing the Zydrunas Ilgauskas deal, who has opted to play in Miami over all other takers, thanks in large part to Lebron James signing here and recruiting his old friend. (See Lebron’s tweet welcoming Big Z to South Beach)

Now, the Heat are reportedly finishing up a deal for Juwan Howard to join the Heat. This is a deal 16 years in the making (recall how Howard signed with the Heat back in 1996 only to have the NBA nix the deal on account of the fact that the Heat had no cap money left).

The final phase, for now, is to see which Heat free agents will stay. The Heat have extended a qualifying deal to Joel Anthony, who should take the deal. They also have been contacted by James Jones, Carlos Arroyo, and Jamaal Magloire with interest in staying in Miami.

That puts the Heat in a pretty good position to get out of the gate with this team. Not only is getting all their ducks in a row quickly key for the team’s identity, but it creates a fervor among players looking at their options to get in with Miami now and also gets the team plenty of time to start training together. The chemistry is going to have to be molded quickly team-wide. So far, so good.

Miller Time: Mike Miller Coming to Miami

Mike Miller Signs with MiamiReports are coming in that Mike Miller has indeed accepted the Heat’s offer. Did this whole Lebron thing have anything to do with it?

It’s a 5 year, $30M deal. So, that means he’s locked in with the Heat’s amazing free agent class of 2010. This is a coup, for the Heat. They needed a shooter and they got one of the better ones in the NBA. Amazing night for the Heat, amazing future for the city of Miami and the growth of the game of basketball.

The Heat get a great shooter that will help create space on the floor for Dwyane Wade, Lebron James, and Chris Bosh. In order for these three stars to feast, they will need to have a strong supporting cast and bring the ex-Gator to Miami will help. The population of Miami-Wade county just grew again tonight.

The Triumvirate is Born: Lebron James is Coming to Miami

Wow. What a media spectacle but in the end, Pat Riley and Dwyane Wade got it done. Lebron James announces on ESPN that he is in fact joining the Miami Heat. Wow, wow, wow. Never again will a team see this kind of talent cultivated on one team in one off-season.

Tonight, Miami are the witnesses. Poor Cleveland. Think back to 1997 when the Marlins took the Indians to 7 games to take the World Series title from them. It will be a post-apocalyptic nightmare for basketball there.

This is something that cannot be put into perspective. There is no precedent for this. The Heat were able to pull of an amazing coup that has been in the works for about 4 years now. Pat Riley has to be regarded now as one of the greatest executives that ever lived.

Heat fans, prepare to be the villains of the NBA. Oh, and watch the bandwagon swell.

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