Back in January, it was announced that Udonis Haslem, who has spent his 16 seasons in the league with the Miami Heat, was planning on hanging it up after this season. He had planned to retire in unison with Dwyane Wade and stated there was “nothing else left for me to do on the basketball court.”
However, it seems that may no longer be the case, as there appears to be interest on both his end and the Miami Heat’s end in Haslem playing with the Heat one more season.
The deal on Udonis Haslem: While he DID say he was done, and then amended that to say 90 percent, the Heat – as we’ve said – want him back. His locker room value is enormous. It’s a one of a kind deal; they want him as a player, even without any real intention to play him.
— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) February 22, 2019
Put it this way: I would guarantee right now that if the Heat went to Udonis and said “$3 million, one more time, help us out” he’d sign before they could get the contract on the desk.
— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) February 22, 2019
Of his 16 seasons with the team, his last three have seen him play in fewer than 20 games each season, and he has only suited up for four in total this season. In those four games, he is only averaging 3.8 minutes per game. It seems that if he remains with the team, he will be there purely as a veteran leader and influence off the court.
Haslem went to high school in Miami and has been a fan favorite with the franchise since he first arrived. All in all for his 848 game career, he has averaged 7.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 0.9 blocks, 0.9 assists, and 0.3 steals per game.
Dwyane Wade’s retirement has the Miami Heat on an odd timeline for this season, as they have been trying to do all they can to let Wade get to play in the playoffs one more time. After this season, though, there is a good chance they will try to enact a soft rebuild, where all the leadership Haslem can offer would be premier.
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