OptimusRhyme
Jive Turkey
Heat agrees to terms with guard Parker
BY BARRY JACKSON
bjackson@MiamiHerald.com
The Heat concluded its nearly month-long search for a veteran point guard Friday when it agreed to terms with guard Smush Parker, two sources said. Parker started most of the past two years for the Lakers before losing his starting job late last season.
Parker, 26, is believed to have agreed to a two-year contract for a portion of the Heat's $5.35 million mid-level exception. The deal is contingent on Parker passing a physical on Monday.
Parker, 6-4, is considered a strong on-the-ball defender and skilled three-point shooter -- he shot 36.5 percent on threes last season (110 for 301) and gives Miami another outside threat to help compensate for the loss of small forward Jason Kapo no, who signed with Toronto. But Parker, who also can play shooting guard, is a below-average free-throw shooter (64.6 percent last season, 71 percent for his career) and always has had a poor assist-to-turnover ratio (2.9 career assist average, compared with 1.84 turnovers). His lo w assist numbers with the Lakers were partly a function of Phil Jackson's offense, according to a personnel director with another team.
Parker, who essentially replaces free agent Gary Payton on the Heat's roster, is expected to back up Jason Williams, who has one year left on his contract at $8.9 million. Williams missed 44 games the past two seasons with knee problems and other ailments.
A shooting guard at Fordham, Parker went undrafted in 2002. He became primarily a point guard in the pros and had stints with Cleveland, Detroit, Phoenix and a team in the Greek league.
A native of New York, Parker joined the Lakers in the summer of 2005, and emerged as a surprise starter, shooting 44.7 percent from the field and averaging 34 minutes, 11.5 points, 3.7 assists, 1.8 turnovers and 1.7 steals in 82 games, all starts .
Parker's numbers declined slightly last season (30 minutes, 43.6 percent from the field, 11.1 points, 2.8 assists, 1.9 turnovers, 1.5 steals). He lost his starting job to rookie Jordan Farmar for the final two games of the regular season and the playoffs.
In five playoff games against Phoenix, Parker shot 2 for 13 from the field and averaged just 11.8 minutes. The Lakers did not try to re-sign him, but the Clippers showed interest recently.
Parker's first name is Henry, but his father was nicknamed Smush, and Williams was given that nickname by his uncle, who died when Parker was 8.
The Heat turned to Parker after unsuccessful earlier attempts to acquire Mo Williams, who re-signed with Milwaukee, and Steve Francis, who joined Houston. Miami also spoke with free-agent point guards Steve Blake (who signed with Portland), Jason Hart (Utah) and Jannero Pargo (who's still unsigned). Other point guards still unsigned include Brevin Knight and Earl Boykins.
During the past week, the Heat also has been unable to pull off a trade for Houston's Rafer Alston (the Rockets were believed to want more than center Michael Doleac) or FC Barcelona combo guard Juan Carlos Navarro, whose rights are owned by the Washington Wizards. The Wizards have shown no interest in accepting a draft pick from the Heat for Navarro.
