Miami, FL – The Miami Heat made a bevy of moves on Friday to give support to their three superstars.
On the first day of transactions following the official end to the lockout, the Heat signed free agent forward Shane Battier. The 10-year NBA veteran split last season between the Houston Rockets and the Grizzlies appearing in 82 regular season games (59 starts) and averaged 7.6 points and 4.5 rebounds.
Battier's signing will back the big three of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. Additionally, the Heat re-signed guard Mario Chalmers and forwards James Jones and Juwan Howard Friday.
Terms of those deals were not disclosed, but Chalmers' is reported to be a three-year pact worth $12 million, while Jones' is a three-year deal worth $4.5 million.
The third year of Chalmers' deal is a team option.
Chalmers has played his entire three-year career with Miami, averaging 7.9 points, 3.7 assists, 2.3 rebounds and 26.7 minutes through 225 games. He is a 41 percent shooter from the floor with a 35 percent clip from three-point range.
Jones is an eight-year veteran with Indiana, Phoenix, Portland and Miami. In 447 career games with 73 starts, the Miami native averages 6.3 points, 2.3 rebounds and 18.9 minutes a game.
Howard, a 17-year NBA veteran, averaged 2.4 points per game last season.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.