Heat Rumors: Chalmers, Hawkins, Winslow

Amid rumors that he might be the next player traded to lessen the team’s luxury tax penalty, Mario Chalmers is preparing like he’s staying in Miami, writes Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel. Chalmers has been holding regular workouts with new teammate Amar’e Stoudemire, who signed with the Heat as a free agent last month. “We’re just getting that feel for each other, becoming friends, just to form a relationship with him,” Chalmers said, adding that he believes the Heat are in position to be contenders again.

There’s more tonight from Miami:

• An unidentified NBA scout said the Heat did very well with their offseason moves, Winderman writes in the same story. The scout calls Gerald Green a “gunslinger” who provides athleticism and can make difficult shots, and says of Stoudemire, “He’s still got some punch left in him.”
• The Heat are hoping to keep Corey Hawkins for their D-League team if he fails to make the opening-night roster, according to Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald. Miami signed Hawkins, the son of former NBA player Hersey Hawkins, on Friday. The 6’3″ guard went undrafted out of Cal-Davis after earning Player of the Year honors in the Big West Conference. Teams are permitted to designate as many as four “affiliate players” for their D-League roster once they clear waivers.
• Rookie Justise Winslow is confident that he is coming to a successful organization in Miami, writes Michael Lee of The Washington Post. Although the Heat missed the playoffs last year, team president Pat Riley has a record of rebuilding quickly, and Winslow, the 10th overall pick, is happy to be part of that effort. “I’m looking forward to going out there and winning, winning championships,” he said. “That’s what the Heat organization is about.”