The Miami Heat have maxed out their roster at 20 players, having signed DeAndre Liggins on Tuesday.
As if there wasn’t enough of a connection between the Miami Heat and the Cleveland Cavaliers, DeAndre Liggins is now part of the 20-man team.
The Heat announced Tuesday morning that they will max out their roster and add the veteran, a guy who is already familiar with the organization. Liggins was signed to Miami on a pair of 10-day contracts in 2014, but ended up playing for the team’s Gatorade League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce instead. He also spent the 2015-16 season there.
However, the played the majority of last year with the Cavaliers. Playing in 61 games (and starting 19), the 29-year-old averaged 2.4 points and 1.7 rebounds a matchup, in 12.3 minutes of play. This included recording 10 points, 3 rebounds and 2 steals against the Memphis Grizzles, and 9 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 block and 3 steals versus the Denver Nuggets.
Liggins also played one game for the Dallas Mavericks, totaling 8 points, 7 rebounds and 2 steals in 25 minutes.
The wing excelled in the G-League though, earning Defensive Player of the Year twice. He started in 33 of 34 games for Sioux Falls in 2016, averaging 13.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, 7.0 assists and 2.1 steals per contest.
So head coach Erik Spoelstra is certainly excited to have him back on board.
"“Another player we feel very familiar with, has a lot of the qualities we tend to like and it’s good to bring him back. We always rooted for him. With everybody we’re just looking at them as Heat family. We’re going to develop them to every capacity that we can and really commit to them. That’s why it’s great to bring guys back we’re familiar with.”"
As for Liggins? He’s just going with the flow.
"“I was a free agent, a lot of things going on with me throughout the summer. Professionally I was happy to be at home. I’m just happy to be back in the groove of things. Nothing changed for me. It’s the same formula here. We’ve got a great foundation here — played with the [developmental] league twice and won a championship. It’s the same thing. I’m used to that system and I’m just happy to be here.”"
Although the official 15-man roster hasn’t yet been decided, five guys will have to be cut. The good news being, they’ll head straight to the Skyforce, an organization with quite a legacy of its own.
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Whether or not DeAndre Liggins is still a part of the Miami Heat come 2017-18 regular season play, is debatable. But nevertheless, it’s good to have him back for now.