NBA tracker: Juwan Howard signs with Miami Heat; Brad Miller

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Posted: 4:17 p.m. July 20, 2010 | Updated: 9:02 p.m. July 20, 2010

MIAMI — After 14 years, Pat Riley finally has Juwan Howard.

The Michigan alumnus joined the Miami Heat today, signing a deal that won’t raise the ire of [url=http://thenbafan.com/]
NBA[/url] officials — unlike his first agreement with Riley. In July 1996, Howard signed a $100-million, seven-year contract with Miami that ultimately was voided by the league because the Heat had gone over the salary cap.

After all this time, Riley thinks Howard will fit his team again. And for a veteran’s minimum salary, the [url=http://thenbafan.com/]
NBA[/url] won’t complain, either.

“We feel that Juwan's ability to play both the four and five spot will be complementary to what we have put together,” said Riley, the Heat president. “He also gives us incredible professionalism and is a perfect fit behind Chris Bosh and Udonis Haslem.”

Howard becomes the 12th player under contract by the Heat for 2010-11, the sixth newcomer to join the rebuilt roster. Miami will be the ninth team for Howard, who will begin his 17th [url=http://thenbafan.com/]
NBA[/url] season this fall. He appeared in 73 games with Portland last season and averaged 6.0 points, making 27 starts.

The Howard reunion with Miami is tinged in irony.

Riley originally signed Howard in what he thought was a blockbuster summer of 1996, seeing him as a huge chip to play alongside Alonzo Mourning — who landed a $112-million deal in that same off-season. Instead, Howard arrives during the blockbuster summer of 2010, with Mourning now an executive who helped the Heat land LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

What Howard doesn’t have is a championship ring, which is why he came to Miami.

For his career, Howard has averaged 14.3 points and 6.5 rebounds. Among active players, he ranks fourth in games (1,116), 15th in points (15,957) and 10th in rebounds (7,251). But his playoff career is largely nonexistent: Howard has appeared in just 29 playoff games (his teams are 9-20), and he has gotten out of the first round of the postseason only once.

Like Wade, Howard — who was part of Michigan’s “Fab Five” in the early 1990s — is a Chicago native. They work out at the gym owned by famed trainer Tim Grover in their hometown, though rarely together.

By the time Wade arrives most mornings, Howard is getting done with his daily regimen.

“I get there at 9, and think I’m there early, and he’s done with his workout,” Wade said. “That’s our veteran. That’s one of those veterans we respect so much because every time we walk in the gym, he’s been there before us. To be at the point where he is in his career, we just respect him so much. He’s a great guy; you want things to happen to good people.”

With Howard signed, the Heat now have an inside corps of him, Bosh, Haslem, Joel Anthony, Jamaal Magloire, Zydrunas Ilgauskas and rookie Dexter Pittman. At guards and on the wing, Miami has Wade, James, Mike Miller, Mario Chalmers and James Jones.

Next up is likely the return of point guard Carlos Arroyo, a former Detroit Piston who started 35 games for the Heat last season. The Heat are still looking for at least one other veteran perimeter player, though any deal now almost certainly would have to be around a minimum-salary level because of cap rules.
Miller signs with Rockets

Brad Miller has signed with the Houston Rockets, reuniting the 7-foot center with coach Rick Adelman.

Miller signed a three-year, $15-million contract to back up Yao Ming, who is expected to be ready for next season after sitting out a year to recover from foot surgery.

General manager Daryl Morey says Miller fills a “huge need” for his team. Miller hopes to get solid minutes at center to help make things “a little bit easier” on Yao.

Miller spent last season with Chicago and played for Adelman in 2003-06 with the Sacramento Kings.
Matthews signing with Trail Blazers

A person close to the negotiations says the Trail Blazers have reached an agreement to sign restricted free-agent guard Wesley Matthews.

The source, who did not want to be identified because the deal is not yet official, expected Matthews to sign the contract either tonight or Wednesday morning.

The Utah Jazz did not match the Blazers’ offer for Matthews. The financial terms have not been disclosed.

Matthews averaged 9.4 points and 2.3 rebounds in 24.7 minutes for the Jazz last season as a rookie. He appeared in all 82 games last season and started in 48.
Bulls getting Watson in sign-and-trade

A person familiar with the situation tells the Associated Press that the Chicago Bulls are finalizing a sign-and-trade deal with the Golden State Warriors for guard C.J. Watson.

The Warriors likely would receive a 2011 second-round pick. The person spoke today on the condition of anonymity because the deal was not official.

Watson can play both guard spots, though his primary role with the Bulls would likely be to back up All-Star Derrick Rose at the point. He has averaged 8.7 points in 23 minutes per game over three seasons.

The move would be the latest in a busy off-season for the Bulls, who have also acquired two-time All-Star forward Carlos Boozer, sharpshooter Kyle Korver and shooting guard Ronnie Brewer — who all played together in Utah.
Barnes heading to Toronto

Free-agent forward Matt Barnes says he is headed for Toronto.

Barnes wrote on his Twitter page that he has decided to play for the Raptors next season. He also thanked fans in Orlando, where he played last season.

Barnes started 58 games for the Magic, helping them reach the Eastern Conference finals.

The well-traveled swingman will be joining his eighth [url=http://thenbafan.com/]
NBA[/url] team. He has averaged 7.3 points, with a career high of 10.2 for Phoenix during the 2008-09 season.
Clippers bring in Smith

The Los Angeles Clippers and free agent Craig Smith have reached a deal for the power forward to return to the team.

Smith averaged 7.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 16.4 minutes in 75 games last season, when he shot 57% from the floor.

He was originally acquired by the Clippers last July along with Sebastian Telfair and Mark Madsen from Minnesota in exchange for Quentin Richardson.

Smith joins free agents Randy Foye, Ryan Gomes and Brian Cook, who already signed with the Clippers. The team’s three draft picks — Al-Farouq Aminu, Eric Bledsoe and Willie Warren — have secured deals, too.