The Miami Heat have been very active this summer, making several moves and contemplating even more. The latest from the NBA rumor mill has the Heat signing Okaro White, and possibly looking to bring back their former point guard, Beno Udrih.
According to the Sun Sentinel , Miami has agreed to a contract with White, the unrestricted free agent and former Florida State standout who most recently has been playing for the Heat’s summer league team. In four games, White averaged 10 points and 6.3 rebounds per contest. Okaro White showed enough to Heat brass during the summer to earn a partially-guaranteed contract from the team.
With the recent departure of Dwyane Wade , as reported by the Inquisitr , the Miami Heat could use some additional experience in the backcourt. The team appears to be looking in the direction of one of their former players, Beno Udrih. The six-foot-three guard from Slovenia played briefly for Miami last season (36 games) before the team waived him. At the time of his release, Udrih agreed to a buyout with the Heat in which he would lose some of the money he was owed. This arrangement had some positive salary cap implications for the team, as reported by ESPN .
Beno Udrih talking with the Heat. https://t.co/UjSsPSXdsd pic.twitter.com/R15LhC0DP1
— HoopsHype (@hoopshype) July 13, 2016
The Miami Heat appreciated what Udrih did to help the team, and partly because of the good will that situation created, the Heat have kept Udrih on their radar. Reports indicate that Beno Udrih will weigh all his options before making a decision, but the Heat have made him an offer for the NBA veteran minimum if he chooses to accept it.
Okaro White, a six-foot-nine power forward, was undrafted out of Florida State, but has played the last two years in Europe. He has posted per-game averages of 12.5 points and 6.8 rebounds, as well as 36 percent marksmanship from three-point range during his time abroad. White will come to Miami’s training camp this fall and compete for a spot in the Heat’s frontcourt rotation.
Beno Udrih is a 12-year NBA veteran, who began his career as the San Antonio Spurs’ first-round draft pick in 2004 (28th overall). Udrih has played for seven teams, with four years being his longest tenure (2007-2011 with the Sacramento Kings). Udrih’s best statistical season came in 2010-11 with Sacramento, when he averaged 13.7 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game as the Kings’ starting point guard.
Udrih has bounced around the league in recent years, but he is considered a solid veteran presence and a good player to have as part of a team’s second unit. If Udrih agrees to join the Heat, he will likely be backing up fellow Slovenian and good friend, Goran Dragic. Dragic is coming off a productive 2015-16 season with Miami, tallying 14.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per outing.
Goran Dragic praises Beno Udrih’s decision to accept a buyout agreement, per @IraHeatBeat : https://t.co/31Gp4f6Ale pic.twitter.com/OlO7O6YQXB
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) March 15, 2016
With all the changes that have been made to Miami’s roster, the Miami Herald opines that the team may plan to play at a faster tempo with the players they currently have on hand. Starting point guard Goran Dragic is at his best when he plays end-to-end, and the Heat have gotten younger with all the roster moves they’ve made this summer.
The average age of the seven veterans no longer with the team is 32 years. Conversely, the group of players who are currently slated to replace them only average 27.5 years of age. Not only are the new-look Heat less experienced, but they will have to replace a great deal of offense with Dwyane Wade, Joe Johnson, and Luol Deng all departing. Derrick Williams, Justise Winslow, and Josh Richardson are all expected to increase their scoring output next season as they are in line to receive more playing time.
NBA rumors suggest that the Heat are about to make even more moves in the massive revamping of their roster. Whether change is good in this case, however, remains to be seen.
[Photo by Lynne Sladky/AP Images]
