The Heat signed Roger Mason Jr. and guard Charlie Westbrook over the weekend to round out their training camp roster, but they'll have their work cut out for them if they plan on making the team. Miami already has 13 guaranteed players under contract and with Michael Beasley almost definitely taking spot No. 14, Mason Jr. and Westbrook will have to vie with Larry Drew II, Eric Griffin, Justin Hamilton, and Jarvis Varnado for the 15th spot. Of course, there's also no guarantee that the Heat will carry 15 players on their roster. Here's the latest out of South Beach..
- The Heat wanted to bring point guard Rodrigue Beaubois in for an audition, but a wrist injury prevented that from happening, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. The 25-year-old averaged 7.1 PPG for the Mavericks over the past four seasons.
- Miami could do worse than filling out the roster with Mason and Beasley, but it's probably not what Pat Riley had in mind when he spoke of "cannibalizing" the free agent market late in the summer, writes Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel.
- More from Winderman, who explains why it wouldn't make sense for LeBron James to sign a new deal with the Heat before the start of the 2013/14 season. Of course, as soon as next summer, LeBron can opt out and return on a brand-new five-year contract. Even if King James went that route, however, it would probably have a series of out clauses like his current deal.
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Would have been nice to get Pietrus, but he was being a b***h about the guaranteed money over winning
Nothing is guaranteed except guaranteed money. He’s had a major injury every year since 09/10 season, makes sense why he would want a guarantee that he won’t be cut.
As an injury prone player, he should have to prove himself in training camp or wait until later in the season, a la Kenyon Martin. thats all I’m saying. Otherwise, go overseas. He hasnt been offered a guaranteed deal by anyone to this point. He isnt going to get one from anyone. I think he would have been a really big piece for the Heat if he could have proven healthy. The exact type of player they need. There are other teams that could probably benefit from him as well. I’m just saying I would have loved to see him in Miami