The Miami Heat are starting to get busy this free agency, adding explosive guard-forward Gerald Green Jr., who played in the past two seasons for the Phoenix Suns.
Green will again be playing with Heat point guard Goran Dragic, who was his teammate with the Suns and was traded to Miami last season.
Dragic recently inked a five-year, $86-million deal to stay with the Heat. Green, who was a former slam dunk champion, signed a one-year, $1.4 million pact with Miami.
"We are fortunate to be able sign a proven veteran like Gerald. He is a dynamic talent who possesses great athleticism and has the ability to shoot from a distance and spread the floor. He'll be a perfect complement to our team," Heat president Pat Riley said in a statement, according to the Sun Sentinel.
Green, 28, played in 74 games last season with the Suns and averaged 11.9 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists.
The Heat will be the shooting guard-cum-small forward's eighth team after playing for the Boston Celtics, Minnesota Timberwolves, Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks, New Jersey Nets (now Brooklyn Nets), Indiana Pacers and Suns.
"He's a high motor. Everybody knows he's really an athletic guy. He can make shots, unbelievable shots that some players, they're really afraid to take those shots. But he's not. He's an unbelievable player," Dragic said in the Sun Sentinel's report.
After signing up Green, the Heat are looking to continue their activities during the free agency period as they look to sign up power forward Amar'e Stoudemire and guard Marcus Thornton.
The Sun Sentinal reported that Miami was close to an agreement with Stoudemire, according to ESPN New York. Stoudemire is a veteran big man who could add experience, leadership and inside presence to the Heat, who are looking to again be contenders next season.
Meanwhile, Thornton, 28, was also with Phoenix last season but only played nine games. The shooting guard has already played for the New Orleans Hornets (now Pelicans), Sacramento Kings, Brooklyn Nets, Boston Celtics and Suns.
