ducks
06-18-2005, 09:47 AM
Heat exercise options on Wade, Mourning
June 17, 2005
Miami (Ticker) - Coming off one of the best seasons in franchise history, the Miami Heat exercised options on two of their most important players.
Miami exercised its 2006-07 team option on star guard Dwyane Wade and picked up the 2005-06 option on reserve center Alonzo Mourning, the team announced Friday.
The Heat wasted little time picking up the option on Wade, who has emerged as one of the league's most exciting talents in his first two seasons. The 6-4 guard averaged 24.1 points, 6.8 assists, 5.2 rebounds and 1.57 steals this past season.
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Wade, 23, also made the All-Star team for the first time and set Heat records for most points in a season (1,854), free throws made (581) and scoring average.
Mourning, who starred with the Heat from 1995-2002, rejoined the team on March 1 after two injury-riddled seasons with the New Jersey Nets in which he continued to battle a lingering kidney ailment.
But the 6-10 Mourning proved to be an important cog to Miami's first-place squad, posting averages of 7.6 points and 5.4 rebounds in 37 games with the Heat and providing much-needed defense, rebounding and veteran leadership along the way.
In his first go-around with Miami, Mourning guided the Heat to six playoff appearances and a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals in 1997 - the only one in franchise history prior to this past season.
Miami finished 59-23 and earned the top seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, but - in part due to a rib injury suffered by Wade - squandered a 3-2 series lead to the Detroit Pistons in the Conference Finals, barely falling short of the first NBA Finals in team history.
With Wade and Mourning returning to a team built around superstar center Shaquille O'Neal, fans can expect the Heat to make another run at a championship in 2005-06.
June 17, 2005
Miami (Ticker) - Coming off one of the best seasons in franchise history, the Miami Heat exercised options on two of their most important players.
Miami exercised its 2006-07 team option on star guard Dwyane Wade and picked up the 2005-06 option on reserve center Alonzo Mourning, the team announced Friday.
The Heat wasted little time picking up the option on Wade, who has emerged as one of the league's most exciting talents in his first two seasons. The 6-4 guard averaged 24.1 points, 6.8 assists, 5.2 rebounds and 1.57 steals this past season.
ADVERTISEMENT
Wade, 23, also made the All-Star team for the first time and set Heat records for most points in a season (1,854), free throws made (581) and scoring average.
Mourning, who starred with the Heat from 1995-2002, rejoined the team on March 1 after two injury-riddled seasons with the New Jersey Nets in which he continued to battle a lingering kidney ailment.
But the 6-10 Mourning proved to be an important cog to Miami's first-place squad, posting averages of 7.6 points and 5.4 rebounds in 37 games with the Heat and providing much-needed defense, rebounding and veteran leadership along the way.
In his first go-around with Miami, Mourning guided the Heat to six playoff appearances and a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals in 1997 - the only one in franchise history prior to this past season.
Miami finished 59-23 and earned the top seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, but - in part due to a rib injury suffered by Wade - squandered a 3-2 series lead to the Detroit Pistons in the Conference Finals, barely falling short of the first NBA Finals in team history.
With Wade and Mourning returning to a team built around superstar center Shaquille O'Neal, fans can expect the Heat to make another run at a championship in 2005-06.