Jones Returning To Heat Next Season
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – When the Miami Heat left the court after winning the NBA championship, speculation began swirling about the futures of both Mike Miller and James Jones.
While Miller's situation won't be decided for awhile, Jones said Thursday that he will be returning for another season with the Heat.
Some speculation had been that Jones would retire after winning the championship last season. Jones, a Miami native, has spent the last four years in Miami after tours in Phoenix, Portland, and Indiana.
Jones is under contract for this year for approximately $3.35 million. He has a player option for 2013/2014.
As for Miller, team president Pat Riley said Wednesday that Miller was supposed to meet with doctors this week and that the team would move on from there afterwards. Miller is on the books for $5.8 million for the coming season and $6.2 million the following season and has a player option for 2014/15.
If Miller is unable to play in the coming season and NBA doctors agree, the Heat would then have a salary cap exception of $2.9 million, or half of his salary, to use on a free agent to replace him.
The team can always amnesty Miller under the current collective bargaining agreement. However, the team has not considered that move and is waiting on word of Miller's health.
Miller was the NBA Finals hero who came into Game 5 and shot the lights out going 7-8 from behind the 3-point line helping to lead the Heat to a victory and the championship.
