Heat agree to one-year deal with veteran forward Udonis Haslem

Throughout the offseason, the Miami Heat have kept in contact with veteran forward Udonis Haslem with the possibility that the team could bring him back on a new deal.

The Heat finally pulled the trigger on a deal on Thursday by agreeing to a one-year, $2.4 million deal with Haslem, according to The Associated Press.

A person with knowledge of the negotiations said Haslem and the Heat have agreed to a one-year, $2.4 million contract that will keep him with his hometown team for a 16th season. The person spoke to the AP on Thursday on condition of anonymity because the contract has not been signed, though that last detail is merely a formality.

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Haslem has played all 15 years of his career with the Heat where he has become more designated to a limited role off the bench in the later years of his career. In his career, he is averaging 7.7 points and 6.8 rebounds per game that saw him play a major role on each of the Heat’s three NBA titles in 2006, 2012, and 2013.

The decision to bring him back is quite intriguing given that he has a strong bond with former All-Star guard Dwyane Wade. There is a growing expectation that he will be on the court for the 2018-19 season, which would likely mark the last year of his career.

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The return of Haslem could be a small inkling that Wade could possibly be on his way back for at least another year with the Heat. In the meantime, this move provides more depth to the frontcourt.