MIAMI - All-Star center Shaquille O'Neal reportedly is
close to working out a more long-term deal with the Miami Heat.
That apparently was enough to convince power forward Udonis
Haslem to remain close to home.
According to a report in the Miami Herald, Haslem has agreed to
a five-year contract for the maximum amount the team can offer.
That amount is expected to be close to $34 million but cannot
be determined exactly until the NBA announces the average salary
later this week.
Haslem cannot sign a contract until the league's player movement
moratorium is lifted. That is not expected to occur before July
22.
The 25-year-old Haslem, who is a native of Miami and played four
years at the University of Florida, started 80 games this past
season and averaged 10.9 points and 9.1 rebounds. He also
ranked fourth in the league in field-goal shooting percentage
(.540) for the Heat, who achieved the best regular-season mark
in the Eastern Conference (59-23).
Led by O'Neal, fellow All-Star Dwyane Wade and the 6-8 Haslem,
Miami advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals before losing to
the Detroit Pistons in seven games. Haslem started all 15
playoff games, averaging 9.2 points and 10.0 rebounds.
O'Neal reportedly is close to opting out of the final year of
his contract, which is scheduled to pay him over $30 million in
2005-06, in order to sign a new five-year deal.
Haslem, who has developed strong working relationships with
O'Neal and Wade, apparently was more enticed to stick with his
hometown team than explore a potentially more lucrative deal
with another team.
Despite not being drafted out of college, Haslem signed with the
Heat as a free agent in August 2003. As a rookie in 2003-04,
he started 24 of 75 games and averaged 7.3 points and 6.3
rebounds.