MIAMI (AP) - The Miami Heat are giving Shaun Livingston a second chance at an NBA career.
The free agent point guard signed a two-year contract with the Heat on Friday, the first significant step in what he hopes is a comeback from a serious injury to his left knee 19 months ago.
Livingston was at practice with the Heat Friday afternoon, and will travel with the team to Europe for preseason games next week, although it isn't clear when he'll be ready for game action.
"I'm excited to play, excited to be here in Miami and really show what I bring to the table when healthy," Livingston said.
Several other teams showed interest in Livingston this offseason, including Portland, Minnesota and the Los Angeles Clippers, who drafted the 6-foot-7 guard with the fourth overall pick in 2004.
Livingston was cleared for basketball activity last spring, and has been playing 5-on-5 in scrimmages for several months, including some stints this summer in Chicago with Heat guard Dwyane Wade.
"It came down to Miami and Minnesota," said Livingston's agent, Henry Thomas, who also represents Wade. "And he was more comfortable there."
Livingston averaged 7.4 points and 4.8 assists in parts of three seasons with the Clippers. He was injured on Feb. 26, 2007, tearing three knee ligaments and dislocating his kneecap in a gruesome scene that he's never seen, just to avoid having the negative mental image in his mind.
"He has great size and feel for the game at his position," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "I've followed him for a few years. It's unfortunate, really, what happened, but we'd normally never be able to get a player of his talent at this time. He's very committed to getting healthy and we have a great staff to help him get there."
The Heat cut point guard Tre Kelley to make room on the 20-man training camp roster. |