This June 10, 2014 file photo shows Miami Heat LeBron James (C) and Mario Chalmers (R) tumble with Antonio Spurs Tim Duncan (2nd-R) during Game 3 of the 2014 NBA Finals in Miami. (AFP)
Mario Chalmers, who has spent his entire six-year career with Miami, has re-signed with the Heat, the National Basketball Association team announced on Monday.
The 1.88m (6ft 2in) guard played 73 games for the Heat last season and averaged 9.8 points and 4.9 assists. He also shot 38 percent from three-point range.
“It’s great to have Mario back,” said Heat president Pat Riley. “We’re happy that he wants to continue his career in Miami. He’s one of our core players.”
Miami is trying to stay a playoff contender following superstar LeBron James’ surprise decision to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
In addition to Chalmers, Miami have reportedly reached agreement with Chris Bosh, Luol Deng and Chris Andersen.
In 439 career games, Chalmers has averaged 8.6 points, 3.8 assists, 2.4 rebounds and 1.5 steals. Chalmers has appeared in 99 playoff games and has averaged 8.8 points, 3.2 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 1.2 steals.
The Dallas Mavericks acquired forward Greg Smith from the Chicago Bulls in exchange for the rights to Tadija Dragicevic. Smith (6-foot-10, 250 pounds) is a three-year veteran and holds averages of 3.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 14.4 minutes in 89 career games (10 starts) with the Houston Rockets. Dragicevic (6-foot-9, 222 pounds) was selected by the Utah Jazz with the 53rd overall pick in the 2008 draft.
The Orlando Magic officially signed free agent forward Channing Frye. The deal reportedly is a four-year, $32 million contract.
The 6-foot-11, 255-pound Frye played and started in all 82 games last season with the Phoenix Suns, averaging 11.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 28.2 minutes per game.
The Magic also acquired two future second-round draft picks (2015, 2016), cash considerations and the contract of forward Anthony Randolph from the Chicago Bulls in exchange for the draft rights to forward Milovan Rakovic. Orlando intends to waive Randolph.
The Detroit Pistons officially signed free agent guard Jodie Meeks to a multi-year contract. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed, but the deal reportedly is for three years and $19.5 million.
The 6-foot-4, 208-pound guard has career averages of 9.7 points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 24.3 minutes in 355 games (194 starts) with the Los Angeles Lakers, Philadelphia 76ers and Milwaukee Bucks.
San Antonio Spurs forward Matt Bonner signed a one-year, $1.448 million, the veteran’s minimum deal. The defending champions are likely to bring back all 14 players on their NBA Finals roster. Only restricted free agent Aron Bynes is unsigned.
Meanwhile, USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo confirmed the 19-player roster for the national team, headlined by 2012 gold medalists Kevin Durant, James Harden, Kevin Love and Anthony Davis.
The roster for the 2014 USA World Cup Team will be selected from the group that reports to training camp in Las Vegas July 28. DeMar DeRozan (Toronto Raptors) and Chandler Parsons (Dallas Mavericks) were added to the roster this week.
The roster includes: Bradley Beal (Washington Wizards); DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento Kings); Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors); Davis (New Orleans Pelicans); Andre Drummond (Detroit Pistons); Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder); Kenneth Faried (Denver Nuggets); Paul George (Indiana Pacers); Blake Griffin (Los Angeles Clippers); Harden (Houston Rockets); Gordon Hayward (Utah Jazz); Kyrie Irving (Cleveland Cavaliers); Kyle Korver (Atlanta Hawks); Damian Lillard (Portland Trail Blazers); Love (Minnesota Timberwolves); Derrick Rose (Chicago Bulls); and Klay Thompson (Golden State Warriors).