NBA Free Agency 2012: Miami Heat exercise rookie-scale option on Norris Cole

Miami Heat point guard Norris Cole is going to be under contract for at least the next two seasons, as Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported on Tuesday.

Make that, Heat announce they have picked up the rookie-scale option on Norris Cole for 2013-14 (next season). sulia.com/c/miami-heat/f…

— Ira Winderman (@IraHeatBeat) October 3, 2012

Cole is set to make close to $1.2 million in the 2013-14 season, and $2.15 million the next season if the Heat exercise the option again. The 2014-15 season is also when the "Big Three" (LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh), along with veteran role players Udonis Haslem and Mike Miller, all have player options.

In his rookie campaign, the point guard out of Cleveland State averaged 6.8 points and 2 assists per game. He cooled off after having an outstanding start to the year, but everything ultimately worked out when the Heat celebrated an NBA title in June.

Cole served as the backup point guard to Mario Chalmers.

Dwyane Wade will 'try' preseason for Miami Heat

Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade has been participating at practice and will try to participate in preseason games this year.

LeBron James says he's 'got to be cautious' with preseason minutes

The Heat and LeBron James are being careful with his preseason minutes in hopes of avoiding fatigue and injury.

Miami Heat Sign Josh Harrellson

The Miami Heats announced the addition of forward Josh Harrellson on Monday. Harrellson spent the 2011-12 season with the New York Knicks, where he appeared in 37 games and averaged 4.4 points and 3.9 rebounds per contest.

SB Nation's Hot Hot Hoops likes the addition and believes Harrellson will make the 15-man roster, but his overall impact on the team is a bit of an unknown.

It's likely that Harrellson will make the 15-man roster. The challenge for Harrellson is to become more than Erick Dampier, Ronny Turiaf and other centers who gave taken a carousel ride with Miami. Dampier and Turiaf soaked up minutes during the 82-game grind of the regular season, but hardly played once the postseason started.

Related: Does LeBron's agent change matter?

Harrellson, who is entering his second NBA season, was originally a second-round selection of the New Orleans Hornets in the 2011 NBA Draft.

Stick with this StoryStream for more coverage of the Heat's 2012 offseason. For all things Heat, check out Hot Hot Hoops.And for more news, notes and analysis from around the league, visit SB Nation's NBA hub.

Miami Heat Sign Garrett Temple

The Miami Heat have signed free agent guard Garrett Temple, according to Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel.

Temple played in Italy last season, competing for AS Junior Casale, who were in Serie A last season the top level of Italian basketball. Temple averaged 9.5 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists for the club, who were relegated to Legadue at the end of the year.

Temple last played in the NBA during the 2010-11 season, where he played 24 total games between the San Antonio Spurs, the Milwaukee Bucks and the Charlotte Bobcats. Temple averaged 2.4 points, 1.0 rebounds and 1.3 assists between the three clubs in just under 10 minutes a game.

The Heat have now signed 17 players for training camp and will have to cut at least two players before the season opener against the Boston Celtics on Oct 30. Temple will compete directly with Terrel Harris for the last guard spot on the Heat bench.

Stick with this StoryStream for more coverage of the Heat's 2012 offseason. For all things Heat, check out Hot Hot Hoops.

Miami Heat Re-Sign Terrel Harris

The Miami Heat re-signed guard Terrel Harris to a non-guaranteed deal on Monday, according to Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel.

Harris appeared in 22 games for the Heat last season as a rookie out of Oklahoma State, averaging 3.6 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 14.5 minutes of action per game. Harris also played in four games for the Heat during their playoff run, which resulted in the NBA championship.

With Harris' signing, there are now 16 players slated to report to camp for Miami. This will force the Heat will have to cut least one person before the start of the season on Oct. 30 against the Boston Celtics. Harris' main competition for one of the final roster spots will be big men Mickell Gladness and Jarvis Varnado, who signed non-guaranteed contracts last week.

Stick with this StoryStream for more coverage of the Heat's 2012 offseason. For all things Heat, check out Hot Hot Hoops.

Miami Heat Work Out Hassan Whiteside

The Miami Heat have invited center Hassan Whiteside to work out with the team, according to a tweet from Jerry Zgoda of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Despite the workout with Miami, the 7-footer is also interested in signing with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Whiteside has made 19 NBA appearances during a two-year career with the Sacramento Kings, averaging 1.5 points and 2.1 rebounds per game. The Kings drafted the shot-blocking Whiteside out of Marshall in the second round of the 2010 NBA draft.

Whiteside was released by the Kings in July after they signed guard Aaron Brooks. Whiteside's agent also claims that there are other teams interested in having the center work out for them, though the agent did not name specific teams.

Heat training camp is scheduled to begin on Sept. 29, 2012.

Stick with this StoryStream for more coverage of the Heat's 2012 offseason. For all things Heat, check out Hot Hot Hoops.

Miami Heat Sign Jarvis Varnado And Mickell Gladness

The Miami Heat have signed center Mickell Gladness and forward Jarvis Varnado to non-guaranteed contracts, as reported by the team's official Twitter.

Both big men have experience in the Heat organization, as detailed by SB Nation's Heat blog Hot Hot Hoops:

They both played for the Heat's Summer League teams in Las Vegas. Gladness was part of the team roster at the start of last season and appeared in eight games with Miami, averaging 0.3 points, 1.4 rebounds and 3.5 minutes before being released on Feb. 7. He returned to the Heat on a pair of 10-day contracts (Feb. 12 and Feb. 28) before moving on to play for the Golden State Warriors.

Varnado has played in Europe since being drafted No. 41 overall by the Heat in the 2010 NBA Draft after concluding his collegiate career at Mississippi State as the NCAA's all-time leading shot-blocker. He last played for Pallacanestro Virtus Roma of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A.

Miami's training camp begins Sept. 29.

Stick with this StoryStream for more coverage from the Miami Heat's 2012 offseason. For all things Heat, check out Hot Hot Hoops.

Heat Coach Erik Spoelstra Excited To Add Ray Allen

Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra is very excited to have Ray Allen on his team, as the Heat look to defend their NBA championship. Allen has had a great NBA career and Spoelstra feels that his three-point shooting game is something the Heat have been missing:

"He's a Hall of Fame-type catch-and-shoot player," Spoelstra said. "We haven't had that element before in our offense. So it's been a lot of fun, trying to X-and-O and come up with new ways to get him open. I don't want to overthink it. I don't want to totally change what we do, but that's a great element to have, that type of weapon."

With the Heat adding a threat to shoot the ball from beyond the arc, that can only make them a better team as it will open up the floor for LeBron James. Dwyane Wade Chris Bosh to be able to have more freedom to make plays.

Spoelstra knew that in order to defend their title they needed to make some roster moves and keep up with the other teams in the NBA that made big signings, such as the Lakers landing Dwight Howard.

For more on the Heat make sure to check out Hot Hot Hoops, and SB Nation Tampa Bay.

Heat Free Agency 2012: Heat Interested In Sean Williams?

Sources have reported that the defending champion Miami Heat might be interested in former Houston Rockets center Sean Williams. ESPN broke the news that Houston waived Williams yesterday, and later added that the Heat might be interested in adding him for front-court depth. The Rockets acquired Williams in a July sign-and-trade with the Celtics and waived him two days before his $900,000 contract became guaranteed.

Williams, a seven-year veteran out of Boston College, only played in eight NBA games last season. He starred in the D-league for the Texas Legends, averaging 15.2 points and 8.9 rebounds in 27 games. He put up similar numbers in 49 games for the Legends in 2010-2011.

The Heat currently sport two centers (Joel Anthony and Dexter Pittman) and three power forwards (Udonis Haslem, Chris Bosh and Rashard Lewis).

For more on the Heat and the 2012 offseason, visit Hot Hot Hoops. Get news and updates from around the league at SB Nation's NBA hub.

Magic Free Agency 2012: Orlando Set To Sign E'Twaun Moore

The Orlando Magic are set to sign free agent guard E'Twaun Moore, according to a report from Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel.

The Boston Celtics selected Moore in the second round of the 2011 NBA Draft, but he was used mostly as a reserve. In 38 games, Moore averaged 2.8 points per game for the Celtics.

Moore was one of the top performers for the Celtics in the Orlando Summer League over the offseason, averaging 14 points per game on 43% shooting. Moore also played in two games for the Celtics in Las Vegas and averaged 17 points per game.

Moore was traded from the Celtics to the Houston Rockets in July as part of the deal that sent Courtney Lee from Houston to Boston. He was released at the end of the month.

For more news and analysis on the Orlando Magic, head on over to Orlando Pinstriped Post. Still not enough basketball news for you? Make sure to visit the SB Nation NBA hub for all the latest from all 30 NBA teams.

Miami Heat Free Agency 2012: Team Works Out Josh Harrellson

While the Miami Heat's roster for the 2012-2013 season is pretty much set, the team is still exploring their options at the backup center position:

Free agent Josh Harrellson worked out with the Miami Heat this morning, according to a league source.

— Tom Haberstroh (@tomhaberstroh) August 23, 2012

Miami turned the tide of the 2012 NBA Finals in Game 2, when Chris Bosh played at the 5 and LeBron James at the 4 as part of a super small-ball lineup.

However, if the Heat ran into Dwight Howard or Andrew Bynum in next year's playoffs, they would need some more bulk at the center position.

Harrellson, a former New York Knick, certainly has that at 6'10 and 275 pounds. He's not the most athletic player in the world, but he does possess a three-point stroke (20-59 as a rookie), which is an interesting weapon for a center.

For more on the Heat and the 2012 offseason, visit Peninsula Is Mightier. Get news and updates from around the league at SB Nation's NBA hub.

Orlando Magic Free Agency 2012: Ish Smith Will Come Back

With Dwight Howard gone, the Orlando Magic now begin a brick-by-brick rebuilding process as they attempt to upgrade their overall talent base.

That means trying to develop marginal young NBA players into legitimate contributors and living through their mistakes on the court. One such player who will have the chance to establish himself is backup point guard Ish Smith, whom the team re-signed on Wednesday.

Smith, a lightning-quick guard listed generously at 6 feet tall and 175 pounds, has played on four different teams since graduating from Wake Forest in 2010. In 20 games with Orlando at the end of the 2012 season, he averaged 2.3 points, 1.6 assists and 1.3 rebounds in 8.6 minutes a night.

His speed allows him to be a defensive pest (averaging 2.3 steals per 36 minutes of action in the 2011-12 season) and he has shown a solid feel for running an NBA offense (6.7 assists against 2.5 turnovers per 36 minutes). He has the chance to be a J.J. Barea-type player, but he'll need to improve his perimeter jumper (he hit just 25 percent of his 3-point attempts last year) and overall offensive efficiency (37 percent from the floor) in order to stick in the NBA.

Smith takes over the roster spot created by the departure of veteran point guard Chris Duhon, who was part of the 12-player deal that sent Howard to Los Angeles. This is what a rebuilding process looks like; no one ever said it would be pretty.

For more news and analysis on the Orlando Magic, head on over to Orlando Pinstriped Post. Still not enough basketball news for you? Make sure to visit the SB Nation NBA hub for all the latest from all 30 NBA teams.

Miami Heat Offseason 2012: Justin Hamilton Signs In Europe

The second-round pick of the Miami Heat, Justin Hamilton, will be heading overseas for his first professional season. Hamilton has signed with Cibona Zagreb.

Sorry, my mistake, the signing of Cibona is Justin Hamilton from LSU not from Spirou Charleroi

— Emiliano Carchia (@SportandoBasket) August 15, 2012

Hamilton suffered a hamstring injury during the offseason that hurt his chances of making the Heat's roster.

A 7-footer from LSU, Hamilton averaged 12.9 points per game and 7.2 rebounds per game in his junior season. It was his only season at LSU, as he transferred from Iowa State after playing two seasons there.

He was voted to the all-conference second team in the SEC last season and had already graduated with a degree in sociology from LSU.

For more on the Heat and the 2012 offseason, visit Peninsula Is Mightier. Get news and updates from around the league at SB Nation's NBA hub.

Orlando Magic Offseason 2012: Club Earns Only ‘F’ Grade From ESPN

The Orlando Magic are not to be envied at the moment. And ESPN agrees.

Chad Ford gave the Orlando Magic's offseason the only 'F' grade in the entire NBA when he released his offseason grades for each team in the league.

The grade is understandable. Here is what Ford had to say:

"The good news, Magic fans? GM Otis Smith is gone.

The bad news? I'm not sure Jerry West, let alone rookie GM Rob Hennigan, can fix the mess Smith left.

The Dwight Howard situation is out of control. The Magic screwed up badly when they didn't trade him before the season began or at the trade deadline. Smith mistakenly thought that the longer the Magic waited, the better offers they would get. It has turned out to be the opposite.

Now the Magic sit with offers from the Lakers, Rockets and Hawks. The Nets pulled out of the running and the Lakers and Hawks are hesitant to trade for Howard with no future commitment. Only the Rockets seem to be willing to throw the kitchen sink at the Magic, including taking on their plethora of horrendous contracts.

The Magic might as well send Howard to the Rockets, get the young assets, cap space and picks and start over. They've earned the top pick in the draft twice and landed Shaquille O'Neal and Howard. Maybe it happens again one day. But as of now, this situation is a complete mess. That fat F is quite warranted.

For more news and analysis on the Orlando Magic, head on over to Orlando Pinstriped Post. Still not enough basketball news for you? Make sure to visit the SB Nation NBA Hub Page for all the latest from all 30 NBA teams.

Ray Allen: Signing With Heat Was A 'Family Decision,' Denies Rondo Influenced Move

Ray Allen's first meeting with the substantial press corps of the Miami Heat centered around the roster of the Boston Celtics, and Allen's bittersweet departure from that team to sign with the rival Heat. Allen said he did not speak with Rajon Rondo, the teammate he'd rumored to have had friction with, but texted with Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnet.

"Those are the guys I talked to over the years. We shared the same philosophy. I look back at all our times playing in Boston, we had a lot of disappointments, but we shared a lot of thrills, a lot of that off the court," Allen said.

(PHOTO: Ray Allen in his new Miami Heat jersey, joined by Pat Riley and Erik Spoelstra)

As for his new role in a crowded, deep Miami back court, Allen joked about his new role when asked if he was aware he'd be coming off the bench?

"Do you mean I'm not starting? Wish they told me that last week," Allen joked.

Allen cited the fact that the Heat won a title without him, so he's not expecting to be catered to by coaches or teammates and merely looking to contribute to "what the team needs or the coach wants, not on my terms."

Allen said that while he's not normally emotional after games, he cried after the Heat eliminated his Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals this season. Allen called the outrage from Boston fans who felt betrayed "understandable."

For more on the Heat and the 2012 offseason, visit Peninsula Is Mightier. Get news and updates from around the league at SB Nation's NBA hub.

Miami Heat Free Agency 2012: Rashard Lewis Agrees To Two-Year Deal

Rashard Lewis will be playing for the Miami Heat after all. The veteran forward agreed to a two-year, $2.8 million deal on Tuesday, according to ESPN.com's Brian Windhorst.

Lewis chose the Heat over other suitors, which might have presented him with a more lucrative offer, but was sold on playing with the defending NBA champions by team president Pat Riley over the weekend, Windhorst reports.

The 6-foot-10 forward, who appeared in just 28 games with the Washington Wizards last season because of injury, could be introduced as early as Wednesday, when Miami plans to make the signing of free agent guard Ray Allen official during a news conference.

Last season Lewis averaged 7.8 points and 3.9 rebounds per game while in Washington. He's expected to help the Heat with his perimeter as a career 38.8 percent 3-point shooter.

For more on the Heat and the 2012 offseason, visit Peninsula Is Mightier. Get news and updates from around the league at SB Nation's NBA hub.

Miami Heat Free Agency 2012: Rashard Lewis Near Commitment With NBA Champs

The Miami Heat inked Boston Celtics guard Ray Allen to a free agent deal last Friday. It's exploring adding 39-year-old Grant Hill, as well. Next up for Miami ... Rashard Lewis? According to ESPN.com NBA writer Brian Windhorst, the 6-foot-10 forward could be the next veteran headed to South Florida to play for the defending NBA champions. Windhorst tweeted the following earlier this afternoon.

Heat on verge of getting a commitment from Rashard Lewis, sources tell ESPN.com . Story posted soon.

Lewis played just 60 games with the Washington Wizards over the last season because of injuries. When on the court, he averaged 7.8 points, 3.9 rebounds and one assistant per game. In spite of the injuries, he would be expected to help in terms of 3-point shooting, as he is a career 38.8 percent shooter from beyond the arc.

For more on the Heat and the 2012 offseason, visit Peninsula Is Mightier. Get news and updates from around the league at SB Nation's NBA hub.

Miami Heat Free Agency 2012: South Florida A Possible Destination for Grant Hill

Free agent forward Grant Hill, who spent the last five seasons with the Phoenix Suns, has expressed interest in joining the Miami Heat, according to NBA.com's David Aldrige.

Hill, who turns 40 in November, is also reportedly considering signing with the Los Angeles Lakers and the Western Conference champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, as he pursues an NBA title. Last week, reports indicated that Hill would either join the Lakers or retire, after teammate Steve Nash was traded to L.A., signing a three-year deal, Since, it appears as if he has opened up the process, considering both the Heat and Thunder, while he still continues to contemplate retirement. Per Aldridge:

The Lakers emerged as a strong favorite for Hill after they agreed to terms with the Suns last week on a sign-and-trade deal that will send Steve Nash to the Lakers after the end of the July Moratorium on the 11th for four Draft picks and $3 million. But Hill is looking at the Heat and Thunder as well.

Last season, Hill averaged 10.2 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 28 minutes per game with the Suns.

For more on the Heat and the 2012 offseason, visit Peninsula Is Mightier. Get news and updates from around the league at SB Nation's NBA hub.

NBA Free Agency 2012: Rashard Lewis Meets With Miami Heat; Marcus Camby Still On The Radar

The Miami Heat continue their pursuit of several free agent to round out the 2012 NBA champs. Rashard Lewis was in town for a visit on Sunday night. Lewis' agent, Tony Dutt, told the Miami Herald that the meeting "went well."

Miami could have some competition for Lewis. He has plans to meet with Atlanta and possibly the New York Knicks. The Hawks could potentially offer more money than the Heat. Lewis is getting a nice $13 million buyout next season, which is reportedly making the Heat think they can get him for a cut rate price.

The Heat are also said to be active still in the pursuit of Marcus Camby from the Rockets. Several other teams are in the mix there, and it would likely require a sign-and-trade deal. Miami is also interested in free agents Courtney Lee and John Lucas III.

For more on the Heat, visit Peninsula Is Mightier. Get news and updates from around the league at SB Nation's NBA hub.

NBA Free Agency: Magic Will Not Re-Sign Ryan Anderson, According To Reports

The Magic will not be re-signing forward Ryan Anderson.

NBA Free Agency 2012: With The Acquisition Of Ray Allen, Miami Sets Their Sights On Rashard Lewis

The basketball world was turned upside down on Friday as free agent shooting guard, Ray Allen, decided against returning to play for the Boston Celtics and instead agreed to play for the rival Miami Heat.

Miami is coming off of their second NBA Championship last month and are now looking to retool their roster for a run at a repeat. Ray Allen gives them one of the best shooters to ever play the game and with the possible retirement of Mike Miller, they're looking to add another pretty good shooter as well, according to Sports Illustrated scribe, Chris Mannix:

With Ray Allen in the fold, Miami will turn its full attention to free agent forward Rashard Lewis, sources tell SI

— Chris Mannix (@ChrisMannixSI) July 7, 2012

Lewis last played for the Washington Wizards and was involved in a trade with the New Orleans Hornets but never played there as the team subsequently bought him out of his contract, making him a free agent.

For more on the Heat, visit Peninsula Is Mightier. Get news and updates from around the league at SB Nation's NBA hub.

NBA Free Agency 2012: Friction With Rajon Rondo A Factor In Ray Allen's Decision To Join Heat

Friday evening, veteran shooting guard and future Hall of Famer Ray Allen surprised all of New England by reportedly choosing to sign with the Miami Heat, the team that knocked his now-former employer the Boston Celtics out of this past season's playoffs. Allen took less money to sign with Miami, and it seems a big reason for jumping ship might have been a strained relationship with mercurial Boston point guard Rajon Rondo.

Via Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports:

Those were some of the conflicts that Allen had with Rondo, but the stubbornness of the point guard worked to exasperate everything. Rondo and Allen were non-confrontational, but much of the behind-the-back sniping to teammates and those around the team took a toll. So much of it was sandbox stuff, the kind of grating, ultimately petty issues that occur in every locker room, every workplace. Rondo didn't chase Allen out of Boston, but their relationship did become a drain in the locker room. Their cold war was something Allen discussed with associates, something that become a concern of management and the coaching staff.

Wojnarowski also mentions in the piece Allen's annoyance and continued frustration with Danny Ainge dangling Allen in trades, and coach Doc River's reluctance to return Allen to the starting lineup at the end of the season as other reasons the veteran sharpshooter went to Miami, but it seems the biggest unresolved conflict was between Rondo and Allen. And now Allen will be donning a Miami Heat jersey next season. He might also want to buy some ear plugs for his first visit to TD Garden next year.

For more on the Heat, visit Peninsula Is Mightier. Get news and updates from around the league at SB Nation's NBA hub.

Ray Allen To Sign With Heat, Tweets Owner Micky Arison

Ray Allen is joining the Miami Heat as a free agent for the 2011-12 season, as the news was broken by Heat owner Micky Arison via Twitter on Friday evening. Allen had left Miami without giving the team an answer on the offer he'd been given, but apparently made up his mind on Friday.

Its 2:30am in London and I was just woken up with great news.Welcome to the family #20!!

— Micky Arison (@MickyArison) July 7, 2012

It's being speculated that the strained relationship between Allen and Rajon Rondo began to wear thin and played a factor is Allen's decision not to return to the Celtics. Allen is clearly chasing one last chance to win another championship before he retires, since he signed with the team that beat his old one in the playoffs, but personnel chemistry seems to have played a factor here.

For more on the Heat, visit Peninsula Is Mightier. Get news and updates from around the league at SB Nation's NBA hub.

NBA Free Agency 2012: Marcus Camby To Visit Miami Heat

Houston Rockets center and veteran Marcus Camby has expressed his desire to return to the team next season, despit drawing interests from playoff teams like the Miami Heat. But Camby will make a visit to Miami on Saturday, as Houston Chronicle writer Jonathan Feigen reported on Friday.

Rockets center Marcus Camby to meet with Heat on Saturday, source said. Knicks next. Rockets unlikely, and not until after Asik decision.

— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) July 6, 2012

Camby would be a nice addition to the Heat, considering that Chris Bosh is the only player on the team taller than LeBron James who can really play. Camby is the kind of player who can still put in quality minutes, whether it's at the beginning or end of the game.

If he stays with Houston, which is obviously still a possibility but doesn't seem likely, he'd share minutes with Omer Asik, who the Rockets just agreed to a peculiar three-year $25 million deal with.

Read more on the Heat at Peninsula Is Mightier and check out the SB Nation NBA hub page for news and notes around the league.

Miami Heat Free Agency 2012: Ray Allen Leaves Miami Without Answer On Contract Offer, According To Report

The biggest target for the Miami Heat in free agency left the city without giving an answer on whether or not he will accept the Heat's offer to join. Ray Allen right now is torn between taking the offer and leaving the Boston Celtics, according to an article posted on ESPN.com by Brian Windhorst.

Allen had an afternoon meeting with Heat president Pat Riley and coach Erik Spoelstra and then went to dinner with them and other members of the team's front office. The Heat offered Allen their mid-level exception, which starts at $3.09 million per season-- or half of the Celtics' offer of $6 million per year over two years.

The max that the Heat can offer Allen is a three-year deal and $9.5 million. Though Allen's best days are behind him, he is still a very reliable shooting presence on the floor, having averaged 14.2 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 46 games last season for Boston. His shooting percentage was at 45.8 percent overall and 45.3 percent from three point range, a career high.

For more on the Heat, visit Peninsula Is Mightier. Get news and updates from around the league at SB Nation's NBA hub.

Why The Magic Brought Back Jameer Nelson

New Orlando Magic general manager Rob Hennigan sees Jameer Nelson as "his type of player".

2012 NBA Free Agency: Rashard Lewis To Visit With Miami Heat

Rashard Lewis struggled last year, playing like the shell of a guy who once earned a max contract. He hit a wall around his 30th birthday, and he'll be turning 33 before the start of next season. The New Orleans Hornets traded for his bloated salary, then bought him out, leaving him free to sign for any team that will take him. Apparently, the Miami Heat are one of his potential suitors.

Veteran F Rashard Lewis, bought out by the Hornets after coming in Okafor/Ariza trade from D.C., will visit Miami this weekend, per source.

— David Aldridge (@daldridgetnt) July 5, 2012

The Heat need to start looking into potential replacements for the aging Shane Battier and injury-prone Mike Miller, but Lewis doesn't exactly fit the bill, given his age and recent statistical decline. He might be a useful player for the Heat at an extremely low salary, but it's tough to envision him being a serious contributor in Miami.

For more on the Heat, check out Peninsula is Mightier. For more from around the NBA, head over to SB Nation's NBA hub page.

Orlando Magic Plan To Pick Up J.J. Redick's Option For 2012-13 Season

The Orlando Magic are in a bit of a transitional period, but they're keeping one of their best bench players at a reasonable price. The team is expected to pick up their option on the final year of J.J. Redick's contract for the 2012-13 season.

Orlando plans to pick up $6M option on final year of J.J. Redick's contract, league sources tell Y! Sports. Magic have until week's end.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 5, 2012

Redick struggled offensively to start his NBA career, but he's developed into a very reliable player. He's a better perimeter defender than anyone expected him to become coming out of college, and he shot 42 percent from behind the arc last season, the best percentage of his career. Considering the current free agent market and Redick's production from last year, his $6 million salary is a good deal for both sides, with Redick perhaps coming out a slight winner.

For more on the Magic's offseason, head over to Orlando Pinstriped Post. For more from around the NBA, check out SB Nation's NBA hub page.

Magic Free Agency 2012: Jameer Nelson's Contract Good For $19.7 Million, According To Report

The new contract that guard Jameer Nelson signed with the Orlando Magic on Thursday isn't as expensive as it potentially could have been. The deal, according to HoopsWorld.com's Alex Kennedy, is worth $19.7 million over three years.

The 2009 all star, who has been with the Magic his entire NBA career, has been a shooting force that played 57 games last season for the Magic, averaging 11.9 points, 5.7 assists and 3.2 rebounds per game, shooting 37.7 percent from three point range and 42.7 percent overall.

Those numbers, except for assists and rebounds were slightly down from his career numbers of 12.4 points, five assists and three rebounds per game as well as 38.8 percent three-point shooting and 45.6 percent shooting overall, his overall shooting presence is something that the Magic wanted to keep in Orlando.

For more on the Orlando Magic's 2012 offseason, visit SB Nation's Magic blog Orlando Pinstriped Post.

Orlando Magic Free Agency 2012: Jameer Nelson, Magic Agree To New Deal

During his eight seasons in the NBA, the Orlando Magic are the only team Jameer Nelson has ever played for. That will continue to be the case for the point guard, as Joshua Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel reports that Nelson and the Magic have agreed to a new deal to keep the 2009 All-Star in Orlando.

Nelson, 30, had reportedly drawn interest in free agency from the Los Angeles Lakers, but the Lakers likely withdrew that interest following a trade made with the Phoenix Suns for Steve Nash. Nelson reportedly reached an agreement with the Magic the day after the proposed trade.

In the 2011-12 season, Nelson averaged 11.9 points with 5.7 assists per game and new general manager Rob Hennigan expressed an interest in keeping the veteran point guard. Nelson has appeared in 527 career games for the Magic.

For more on the Orlando Magic's 2012 offseason, visit SB Nation's Magic blog Orlando Pinstriped Post.

Miami Heat Free Agency 2012: LeBron James, Dwyane Wade Excited For Thursday

Since becoming the 2012 NBA Champions, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat have had plenty to be excited about. But the pair are particularly excited about Thursday and have taken to Twitter to tell everyone. That's because Thursday is the day when Ray Allen will visit the Heat on his free agency tour.

The Heat will likely have competition for Allen as the 36-year old shooting guard is set to head out to the West Coast to visit the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday and the Boston Celtics are also reportedly interested in trying to hang on to the 10-time All-Star.

James and Wade will likely have to help the Heat to sell Allen on the NBA Champion team as reports indicate that the Clippers and Celtics will be able to pay significantly more for his services. The 2012-13 season would be the 17th for Allen after he averaged 14.2 points per game in the 2011-12 season with the Celtics.

For more on the Heat, visit Peninsula Is Mightier. Get news and updates from around the league at SB Nation's NBA hub.

Orlando Magic Free Agency 2012: Ryan Anderson Visits Sacramento Kings

The Orlando Magic have their hands full this offseason. Magic restricted free agent Ryan Anderson visited the Sacramento Kings on Monday, according to Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee.

Anderson had lunch with the Kings' brass and visited their practice facility. He played college ball at Cal and attended Oak Ridge High School.

The Magic have said that they intend to keep Anderson, but would like to resolve the Dwight Howard saga first. Orlando is in the process of trying to trade Howard. Earlier reports had Anderson on the radar in Philadelphia. He could attract several suitors.

Anderson, 24, led the league in three-pointers this season. He also earned the Most Improved Player award, playing in 61 of 66 games. He reached career highs with 16.1 points per game and 7.7 rebounds per game this season with the Magic.

For more on the Orlando Magic's 2012 offseason, visit SB Nation's Magic blog Orlando Pinstriped Post.

2012 NBA Free Agency Rumors: Celtics 'Willing To Double' Heat Offer To Ray Allen, According To Report

Sunday marked the official beginning of the NBA Free Agency season, and one of the hottest commodities on the market is veteran sharpshooter Ray Allen. The consensus seems to be that Allen will sign with the newly crowned NBA Champion Miami Heat. Miami, however, cannot offer anywhere near the contract that the Celtics can offer to Allen. Via ESPN's Chris Broussard:

Source: Celtics willing to double (in terms of $) Heat offer to Ray Allen. Will give 2 years/$12 million. Heat can offer only $3 mill a yr

— Chris Broussard (@Chris_Broussard) July 1, 2012

Even at 37 years of age, Allen still bring solid production to the court, averaging 14 points per game last season will logging and 34 minutes a night. It will be interesting to see if Allen turns done more money in Boston to join Lebron James and company in South Beach.

For more on the Heat, visit Peninsula Is Mightier. Get news and updates from around the league at SB Nation's NBA hub.

NBA Free Agency 2012: Magic, Heat Show Interest In Forward Jordan Hill

Just one year ago, the NBA locked out it's players and a prolonged work stoppage occurred. This year July 1st simply marked the beginning of the offseason free agent bonanza as it has done in years past. As usual, Yahoo!'s Adrian Wojnarowski seems to know some thing but every player int he league and where they might head. A recent post notes that the Orlando Magic and Miami Heat are interested in free agent forward Jordan Hill:

After a sluggish start with the Lakers, Hill had several strong playoff performances.

The Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat and Orlando Magic also have interest in Hill, who was traded to the Lakers from Houston for Derek Fisher and a first-round pick in March.

The 6'10" Hill has played for the New York Knicks, Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers in his young career, averaging 5.3 points per game and 4.2 rebounds per game.

For more on the Orlando Magic's 2012 offseason, visit SB Nation's Magic blog Orlando Pinstriped Post. For more on the Heat, visit Peninsula Is Mightier. For all your NBA news and analysis, visit SB Nation's NBA hub.

Miami Heat Rumors: Champs Pursuing Ray Allen, Lamar Odom

The Miami Heat are interested in adding Ray Allen this offseason.

2012 NBA Free Agency Rumors: 'General Consensus' Believes Ray Allen Will Sign With Miami Heat

NBA pundits have been talking about the possibility of Boston Celtics guard Ray Allen signing with the Miami Heat as a free agent before the finals were finished. Alex Kennedy from Hoopsworld was the latest to chime in on the Allen talk. Kennedy tweeted this late on Tuesday:

The general consensus around the NBA is that Ray Allen will sign with Miami. "Barring a change, he'll join the Heat," said a league source.

— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) June 27, 2012

Prior reports had the Los Angeles Clippers and New York Knicks as possible destinations as well. Those reports surfaced before Miami won the championship.

Allen is a five-time All-Star in the twilight of his career. He turns 37 in July. He averaged more than 14 points per game and 34 minutes of playing time. Both stats are a drop off from the year before, but he still proved to be an important part of a Boston team that took Miami to seven games in the playoffs this year.

For more on the Heat, visit Peninsula Is Mightier. Get news and updates from around the league at SB Nation's NBA hub.

2012 NBA Free Agency Rumors: Ray Allen Leaning Towards Miami Heat

Current Boston Celtics guard Ray Allen could be leaving Boston when free agency begins. The Miami Heat is a possible destination for the veteran.