[Miami, FL] On Saturday, the Miami Heat announced the signing of free agent center Eddy Curry, a nine-year veteran of the league, as well as the signing of five players from the NBA Development League (D-League) many of whom have experience in pro basketball leagues from across the globe.
Maybe Miami should rename the team the Globetrotters.
With this final flurry of contract activity, the team’s line-up should be pretty much solidified going forward. Of the latest signings, Curry’s is the most talked about.
“Don’t know what to expect,” said Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra of Curry after the team’s second day of training camp. “Obviously when he was healthy and playing at his peak form, he was a power in the paint … He had a very good day today.”
Spoelstra said Curry had lost weight since the last time he worked out for the team (which is a good sign). During his lengthy career, Curry has appeared in 511 games and averaged 13.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 25.4 minutes. He has shot an extremely high 54.5% from the field and a reasonable (for a big man) 64.2% from the foul line.
Curry’s former NBA teams include the New York Knicks and the Chicago Bulls.
In addition to curry, the Miami Heat snapped up some of the NBA Development League’s best talents, including guard Cameron Jones (Fort Wayne Mad Ants/Northern Arizona University), center Mickell Gladness (Dakota Wizards/Alabama A&M), guard Terrel Harris (Rio Grand Valley Vipers/Oklahoma State University), guard Jeremy Wise (Bakersfield Jam/University of Southern Mississippi) and forward Derrick Byars (Bakersfield Jam/Vanderbilt).
Three of the D-Leaguers – Harris, Wise and Byers – have been busy overseas peddling their wares in a variety of leagues in Germany, Israel, Italy, Philippines and France.
Yes, they have a pro league in the Philippines.
Per club policy, none of the terms of any of the deals were disclosed, although I am sure many of those D-Leaguers were signed for the league minimum.
By: Mark Christopher/Sunshine Slate
Image: Miami Heat
Miami Heat
