Miami Heat sharp shooter Mike Miller returns to the gym in preparation for next season – NBA News
Mike Miller struggled with his fitness for much of the 2011-2012 season with the Miami Heat. In fact, Miller has been having troubles with injury for the past few seasons, and he was struggling to be active for
Miami during the playoffs.
There were rumours that Miller might be amnestied by the Heat at the end of the season as the player is commanding a hefty salary for a back up player and the Heat could use some salary cap space with three superstars
already signed on to the roster.
However, despite the injuries, Miller showed a lot of heart to still play and then had a time of a lifetime in game 5 of the NBA Finals when he knocked down seven three pointers and helped Miami clinch the NBA
title at home.
That game renewed Miami’s interest in him and Pat Riley decided that they would keep Miller for now.
Miller underwent surgery in the offseason and spent most of the time rehabbing from the surgery. But he is recovering well and just started basketball related activities. Miller took to his Twitter account and
said:
“Gr8week being back in the gym FINALLY Way 2long of a layoff slowly but surely feelN better Feels good getting ready 4 another year #LETITFLY.”
Miller is expected to earn $5.8 million in salary this coming season, $6.2 million in the next season and he has a $6.6 million option in the year after that. Miami added shooting specialist Ray Allen and Rashard
Lewis to the team in the offseason to help spread the floor and open up the defence.
With the addition of the two players, especially Allen who is a three point specialist, there were chances that Miami would let Miller go. But until now, they have not made any announcement on that front and
Miller will most probably be in the Heat roster next season.
Miller had said during the regular season that he might consider retirement when the season finishes. But that was when Miami had not won the NBA championship, and with playoff experience as well as Allen on
the roster, they have a high chance of repeating the same performance next season. In such circumstances, Miller would not want to retire; rather he would want to be a part of a championship winning team. Plus, he is being paid well too.
Miami, on the other hand, might reconsider their decision in the long run with so many players so big contracts and the team struggling with cap space. But for now, Miller is getting ready to be available for
the Heat when the season opens, and is on track for it. How much of an impact he can make for them next season in still a big question mark.
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