Udonis Haslem believes he can keep playing, and Pat Riley wants the long time Miami Heat forward back next season.
Udonis Haslem spent most of the season racking up DNP-CD’s, but that doesn’t mean the 36 year old is ready to call it quits. He plans on returning to the Miami Heat for his 15th season. From the Palm Beach Post:
"“I got no reason to stop playing,” Haslem said. “I still got a lot of gas in the tank.“When you get to this point you have a decision to make, do you want to be around an organization to help rebuild or do you want to go somewhere and try to help somebody win a title? That’s a decision I’ll be faced with. For me I enjoy being a part of the rebuilding process.”"
It takes more than just wanting to come back to make it happen. Upper management has to offer him a contract, after all. During his end-of-season press conference, team president Pat Riley left no questions about where he stands in regards to Haslem.
"“We have 15 roster spots and I hope that Udonis fills one of them without a doubt,” Riley said. “He’s invaluable in so many aspects on the court, off the court.”"
Haslem played in just 17 games this season, for a total of 130 minutes, and recorded just 31 points and 36 rebounds all season. He was listed as a ‘DNP-Coach’s Decision’ in the box score 64 times.
His role was very much that of the team captain on the bench. The savvy vet who acted as a leader for a young team. Haslem said he’ll be making sure younger teammates James Johnson, Dion Waiters (both free agents who want to be back with the Heat) and Tyler Johnson are prepared for next season.
Haslem, who will be 37 next season, played this year on a one-year, $4 million deal. He’ll likely sign for the veteran minimum of around $2.3 million this summer.
Some wonder why the team wouldn’t just convince him to take a coaching role and free up a roster spot, but part of Haslem’s effectiveness is that he comes at players as a peer. Messages can get lost behind a suit and tie. Plus, as Haslem says, he feels he can still play. Heat fans the past few years have seen how a timely Haslem performance can sometimes help win a game.
(Also, I’ll let you be the one to tell him he needs to retire and become a coach.)
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With so many changes for the Heat the last few years, Haslem has been one of very few constants. His role as a ‘Heat Lifer’ is set in stone, and there is no doubt that Riley wants him back.