Heat Sign Big Man Josh Harrellson
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – The Miami Heat signed 6'10" Josh Harrellson, last of the New York Knicks, Monday afternoon to bring their total roster number to 18 heading into training camp.
Harrellson averaged 4.4 points and 3.9 rebounds in just less than 15 minutes of play last year. The big man shot 42 percent overall from the field and 33.9 percent from behind the three-point line.
Harrellson started four games out of the 37 he played with the Knicks. In those four starts, he averaged 10.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. Harrellson is in his second season out of the University of Kentucky, where he played three years for coach John Calipari.
Standing 6'10" and weighing 275 pounds, Harrellson could give some of the Heat big men a reason to worry as training camp nears, specifically Dexter Pittman, who has never grown into the player the Heat have hoped he would.
The Heat plan on starting Chris Bosh at center this season and have Mickell Gladness, Joel Anthony, Pittman, and Jarvis Varnado signed on as centers as well.
If Harrellson can play well in the preseason, he could become a decent backup for the Heat as Miami looks to defend its NBA championship. Pittman may not make the roster, so Harrellson's main competition could be Gladness and Varnado.
Officially, the Heat's roster will have the following players: Bosh, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Ray Allen, Udonis Haslem, James Jones, Mike Miller, Shane Battier, Mario Chalmers, Rashard Lewis, Norris Cole, Anthony, possibly Terrel Harris or Garret Temple and some combination of big men from Pittman, Harrellson, Gladness, Varnado.
