Udonis Haslem (L) and Derrick Williams. (Photo : Getty Images)
In the aftermath of Dwyane Wade's jump ship to Chicago, the Miami Heat moved on with their summer dealings by re-signing veteran power forward Udonis Haslem and six-year pro Derrick Williams to boost the team's frontcourt going into the new season.
Haslem agreed to a one-year, $4 million deal to come back to Miami next season.
With his return to Miami confirmed, the 36-year-old Haslem becomes the longest tenured member of the squad in 2016-2017. Similar to Wade, the former Florida Gators standout came in the league undrafted during the 2003-2004 season and had stayed with the same team for the last 13 seasons.
Also together with Wade, he was the only one who has been a part of all the squads that won the franchise's three NBA titles so far. However, unlike the 12-time NBA All-Star, Haslem is sticking with the Heat for a 14th season while the 2006 Finals MVP recently decided to go back home to Chicago in controversial fashion allegedly over a contract dispute.
Fansided noted that re-signing the Miami native "brings stability, leadership" to the suddenly unstable and leaderless group following D-Wade's departure.
Aside from being the oldest player in the team's roster, he is also the most experienced one who had been through a lot of regular season and playoff battles and so head coach Erik Spoelstra could definitely count on him to influence the team's younger players both on and off the court.
With young guns Justise Winslow, Josh Richardson, Briante Weber, and newly signed Rodney McGruder, Spoelstra will need an old hand to help him with the development of the young frontline and Haslem seems to be the perfect man for the job.
Meanwhile, the Miami Herald reported that former second overall pick Derrick Williams was acquired by the Heat on Sunday in a one-year, $5 million contract.
Like Haslem, the former New York Knicks backup forward will provide much-needed depth to Spoelstra's frontcourt lineup and could also be an instant off-the-bench offensive spark plug for the club.
The 25-year-old Williams averaged 9.3 points and 3.7 boards last season playing in 80 games with the Knicks. He had proven himself as a reliable substitute scorer, scoring 24 points during the Knicks season-opening win over the Bucks and firing a career-high 31 points versus the Nets in January.
