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Ball Don't Lie

Tue Sep 02, 2008 10:10 am EDT

Breaking news: Heat sign Michael Phelps

By J.E. Skeets

MIAMI — The Heat added to its depth at center Monday by agreeing to terms with swimmer Michael Phelps, winner of eight gold medals in Beijing, China.

Although terms were not immediately available, Heat President Pat Riley said earlier in the day the team was looking for a player willing to take the veteran's minimum and/or help Dwyane Wade with his butterfly stroke.

While the Heat has depth at center, its starting job remains in flux.

After the midseason trade of Shaquille O'Neal, Mark Blount emerged as the Heat's primary starting center last season. Woops!

The Heat had looked into Theo Ratliff, Lorenzen Wright and D.J. Mbenga and three other veteran centers before settling on Phelps, 23, and former "All-Star" Jamaal Magloire, 30, who they signed on Friday.

Riley said at the start of the offseason he could envision the team opening with incumbent starting power forward Udonis Haslem at center, as a way of getting Shawn Marion and first-round draft choice Michael Beasley into the starting lineup. But that'll all change now that Riles has a 6'4" swimmer for his center.

Phelps spent the last eight seasons in chlorine. He played in a few poolside basketball games last year, averaging 4.8 points and 1.1 rebounds. He shot 41 percent from the deep end.

Again, per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

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24 Comments

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  1. the REAL Headless Chicken
    1. Posted by the REAL Headless Chicken Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:12 pm EDT

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    Hehehehehe.
  2. Trey
    2. Posted by Trey Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:59 pm EDT

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    41 Percent from the deep end? Wow! Even the great Mark Spits never shot better than 38% from the deep end. This could be the biggest steal of Free Agency this summer.
  3. Trees At TheSportCount.com
    3. Posted by Trees At TheSportCount.com Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:56 pm EDT

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    In other news, Jamaal Magloire is a better swimmer than basketball player.
  4. Ty
    4. Posted by Ty Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:26 pm EDT

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    Can't do any worse than Antoine Walker.
  5. Trey
    5. Posted by Trey Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:59 pm EDT

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    Also in other news, Jamaal Magloire is a lousy swimmer.
  6. BigBeastOfTheNortheast
    6. Posted by BigBeastOfTheNortheast Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:18 pm EDT

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    The title should have been "Heat make splash by singing Phelps"
  7. Devine
    7. Posted by Devine Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:39 pm EDT

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    Put your collar down, Mike. Winning gold medals doesn't make that OK.
  8. Lencho323
    8. Posted by Lencho323 Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:00 pm EDT

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    This can't be real........
  9. JTrunner
    9. Posted by JTrunner Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:46 pm EDT

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    he should play for the laker get it lakers????? cuz he swims. that joke was about as funny as this article or norm mcdonalds jokes at the bob saget roast
  10. db0SS
    10. Posted by db0SS Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:10 pm EDT

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    chico sucks!
  11. gerald g
    11. Posted by gerald g Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:08 pm EDT

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    WOW!! Might as well sign Mark Spits! this is a joke, 6'4 @ Center WOW!
  12. Elvis G
    12. Posted by Elvis G Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:54 pm EDT

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    This sucks. It would have been better if Phelps joined the greatest team of all time the Boston Celtics.
  13. Chino
    13. Posted by Chino Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:21 pm EDT

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    cmon guys the jersey was given to him by d.wade
  14. no nickname
    14. Posted by no nickname Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:29 pm EDT

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    孩子,還是回小泳池吧…..籃球場很危險滴…..
  15. t-mac #1
    15. Posted by t-mac #1 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:56 pm EDT

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    tha's great...now dwight howard could be a gymnast and shaq and bark should try-out for the wrestling team...lol...
  16. Deuce313
    16. Posted by Deuce313 Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:30 pm EDT

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    I guess next they'll sign that 100 yd sprinter from Jamaica. I'm sure he'd make a great point guard,................. cuz ... um..... he run fast.?!?.
  17. J M
    17. Posted by J M Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:29 pm EDT

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    Shaq has signed a deal to Sumo Wrestle in Japan.
  18. Werwe
    18. Posted by Werwe Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:43 pm EDT

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    Well i think its great about time this world got those two sport athletes and not just the double stuf racers. i mean hes got sick legs prolly got more hops than half the league. I can dig it. But speaking of two sports, usain bolt to the NFL and thats for real, but next year. Im thinking hed be a good wide reciever. or even a corner, or a kick returner, or a running back, except hes rtoo tall to be a runnign back.
  19. 子翔 林
    19. Posted by 子翔 林 Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:18 pm EDT

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    hello!美國人(Americans)菲爾普斯是台灣人啦!(Phelps is the offspring of Taiwan)
    中國最強拉(China is the most powerful in sports history)
    By the way, US sucks!!!!
  20. Dustin S
    20. Posted by Dustin S Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:49 pm EDT

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    awkward
  21. dooandy13
    21. Posted by dooandy13 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:47 pm EDT

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    hello!美國人(Americans)菲爾普斯是台灣人啦!(Phelps is the offspring of Taiwan)
    中國最強拉(China is the most powerful in sports history)
    By the way, US sucks
    Taiwan is a free, democratic country. If you chinese dare fire your missiles towards our good friends the Taiwanese, You will truly find out what wrath is. Don't forget what happened when you tried to play your little games in 1996. The US 7th fleet sure shut you up really quickly, didn't it...You want more? I didn't think so. Now, go get your frickin shinebox, comrade.
    Taiwan JiaYou! Meiguo JiaYou! Jianada JiaYou! Zhongguo, kwai se le!!
  22. Hytham B
    22. Posted by Hytham B Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:06 pm EDT

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    is this true please sumone answer ............im lost lol
  23. Spiderbandit88 - Read the Blogs, Not the Comments
    23. Posted by Spiderbandit88 - Read the Blogs, Not the Comments Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:08 pm EDT

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    Hey Skeets, did Chris Chase help you on this one???? (lol)
  24. MR-O
    24. Posted by MR-O Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:22 pm EDT

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    if anyone really believes that miami signed michael phelps to play basketball is so gullible they would buy the ocean front property i have in missouri.

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