Updated: Sep. 22, 2005, 5:08 PM ET
Glove work: Heat sign Payton to one-year deal
Associated Press
MIAMI -- Gary Payton signed a $1.1 million, one-year deal with Miami on Thursday, the latest move in an offseason filled with significant roster changes by the Heat.
Payton, a nine-time All-Star, again joins Shaquille O'Neal -- who lured the veteran point guard to Los Angeles two seasons ago in what ultimately was a failed title quest with the Lakers, who lost to Detroit in the 2004 Finals.
Payton and Jason Williams -- another new Heat addition -- will be the team's primary point guards entering training camp, which opens in less than two weeks.
"We are very fortunate to have been able to acquire a player of Gary Payton's stature," Heat president Pat Riley said. "He is a proven veteran and will be a big addition to this team."
Miami lost starting point guard Damon Jones to Cleveland earlier this summer; Jones signed a four-year, $16.1 million free-agent deal. That move came after the Heat acquired Williams, James Posey and Antoine Walker in a 13-player, five-team deal -- one where Miami gave up swingman Eddie Jones, another starter from the team that won 59 games last season and posted the Eastern Conference's best regular-season record.
O'Neal lobbied for the Heat to sign Payton, a free agent who averaged 11.3 points and 6.1 assists for Boston last season, saying he was "the only guy in the world" that could help Payton win his elusive first championship. Payton played with Seattle in the 1996 Finals against Chicago, then returned to the title series with the Lakers two seasons ago -- losing both times.
Miami is the fifth team Payton's played for in 16 NBA seasons, and he comes with career averages of 17.6 points, 7.2 assists and 2.0 steals per game. He's third on the NBA's all-time steals list (2,331), sixth in assists (8,508), 12th in minutes played (43,309) and 25th in points (20,829).
-Arlos
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