Miami Heat, while awaiting Dwayne Wade’s decision, has opted to finalize a deal with the forward Udonis Haslem instead of signing forward Marcus Lee.It is reported that Haslem is on the verge of returning for his 16th NBA season with the Miami Heat, although the agreement has not been officially sealed yet.
In a recent statement to The Associated Press, Haslem mentioned, “Ultimately, it boils down to whether they want me back and if I desire to return.”
Haslem, anticipated to receive $2.4 million, holds the record for the most rebounds in Miami Heat history.Despite playing a mere 72 minutes in over 14 games last season, he ranked 3rd in the 2017-18 Twyman-Stokes Teammate Award voting among players throughout the league, finishing behind Manu Ginobili and Jamal Crawford.
Goran Dragic emphasized earlier in the offseason the challenge of elucidating Haslem’s significance to outsiders. “Many are quick to judge because he’s not on the court, but they underestimate his impact on the team, especially with his experience and leadership.”
Haslem is always available to impart his wisdom and support to the young NBA players, aspiring to one day embody the veteran leadership role, as Dragic further remarked.Conversely, Lee has secured a contract with the Heat, joining guard Malik Newman.Lee showcased an average of 11.4 points, 1.6 blocks, 7.2 rebounds, and a 56.3% shooting rate in thirty-two games during the previous season with the University of California after spending three years at Kentucky, where he averaged 3.9 points and 3.6 rebounds in over 100 games.
