MIAMI HEAT
Heat signs free agent; J-Will to Clippers
Posted on Thu, Aug. 07, 2008
BY MICHAEL WALLACE
JOHN VANBEEKUM / MIAMI HERALD STAFF
Former Heat guard Jason Williams will join Ricky Davis in the backcourt for the Los Angeles Clippers after signing as an unrestricted free agent.
Roster moves on Thursday saw the Miami Heat add depth to an already crowded perimeter rotation and officially lose the point guard from the team's championship season.
The Heat addressed its need for a perimeter defender by signing free agent Yakhouba Diawara, a 6-7 swingman who has spent his two NBA seasons with Denver.
But Miami still has a pressing need at point guard, where bringing back free agent veteran Jason Williams is no longer an option after he signed with the Los Angeles Clippers.
Williams, who started on the Heat's 2005-06 NBA title team and has spent three seasons in Miami, is the second Heat free agent to sign with the Clippers this summer. He rejoins Ricky Davis, who left last month.
The Heat had shown only modest interest in re-signing either Williams or Davis after the team stumbled to a NBA-worst 15-67 last season.
Diawara's addition brings the Heat's roster to 15 players under contract and helps fill the team's void for a lockdown defender on the perimeter. He is the second wing player added this week and third since the free agency signing period opened last month. The Heat used the remaining $900,000 of its mid-level exception to guarantee at least the first season of Diawara's two-year contract.
Diawara has played 113 games, including 33 starts, with Denver the past two seasons and has averaged 3.7 points and 1.5 rebounds. It is unclear how his addition might affect the status of Heat forward Dorell Wright, a restricted free agent who has yet to sign the team's one-year, $2.4 million qualifying offer in hopes of landing a longer contract.
Bob Myers, Wright's agent, said Thursday he's engaged in ongoing discussions with Heat general manager Randy Pfund regarding Wright's role and future.
''[We're] expecting an offer from the Heat by early next week,'' Myers said. ``Miami has made it clear that they would like to keep Dorell, so hopefully, we can reach a fair deal at some point in the near future.''
The Heat used $4 million of the $5.6 million mid-level exception to sign sharp-shooting swingman James Jones last month and another $700,000 to guarantee the first-year salary of second-round pick Mario Chalmers. Miami also signed swingman Bobby Jones off waivers to a minimum salary deal Tuesday.
Diawara and James Jones are expected to back up starters Dwyane Wade and Shawn Marion at shooting guard and small forward. Bobby Jones is also in the mix at the position but would enter training camp next month as roster long shot.
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