Jul 9, 2008 3:28 pm US/Eastern
Heat Sign Former Hurricane Star
Jones Will Bring 3-Point Shooting
MIAMI (CBS4/AP) ―
In past years, the Miami Heat have had three-point shooters in the likes of Jason Kapono, Damon Jones, and James Posey, but watched them leave as free agents. Wednesday they inked another player of that caliber.
James Jones has signed a five-year contract with the Heat, giving the swingman an opportunity to play for his hometown team starting next season.
Jones, a South Florida native who played at the University of Miami, made 291 shots from 3-point range over the past three seasons while playing for Phoenix and Portland. The forward opted
out of his deal with Portland earlier this offseason, and the Heat quickly showed interest, offering a deal that will pay him $4 million next season.
The South Florida Sun-Sentinel first reported terms of the agreement.
Jones shot a career-best 44 percent from 3-point range last season, giving Miami a dimension it wanted to add this summer. The Heat shot only 36 percent from 3-point range as a team this past season.
(© 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
