The Miami Heat could be looking at a familiar face to fill its 15th and final roster spot.
The Heat have 13 fully guaranteed contracts entering training camp. Tyler Johnson has a partially guaranteed contract, and he’s essentially a lock to make the 15-man roster. That means one spot is left open for the regular season roster.
Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald reports that former Heat swingman Rasual Butler is expressing serious interest in returning to Miami.
“Barring trades involving Mario Chalmers or Chris Andersen, forward James Ennis appears the only incumbent Heat player at risk of being cut, with his $845,059 salary becoming fully guaranteed on Oct. 28. Ennis, who disappointed the Heat in summer league, is fortunate that the Heat hasn’t used its roster spots on an established veteran who wants to be here (such as Rasual Butler, who expressed interest).
“The Heat players who have been signed to spots 16 through 19 are viewed as D-League players, though forward Greg Whittington could challenge Ennis. If Ennis struggles in camp, the Heat will consider keeping the 15th roster spot open until something intriguing comes along.”
James Ennis is the one veteran on the roster that might not make the cut for the 2015-16 season. Miami currently has 19 players on its roster, and they are allowed to have 20 players before the season starts.
Butler is currently a free agent after playing last season for the Washington Wizards. The 36-year-old forward played the first three seasons of his career with the Heat from 2002 until 2005. He was a second-round draft choice for the franchise in the 2002 NBA Draft.
His best asset is his ability to shoot from long-range. He is a career 36.3 percent shooter from beyond the arc and converted on 38.7 percent of his three-point shots with the Wizards last season.
It remains to be seen whether or not the Heat have mutual interest in Butler, but there is little doubt that there will be plenty of competition when it pertains to the 15th and final roster spot during training camp.
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