The Miami Heat extended a qualifying offer to point guard Mario Chalmers on Wednesday. The move ensures that he will be a restricted free agent and allows the team to match any offer another team makes Chalmers.
Miami will also be allowed to exceed the salary cap to re-sign Chalmers, but that could change after the NBA's labor deal expires on June 30.
Heat fans have a love-hate relationship with Chalmers, who sometimes manages to both amaze them with daring long-distance shots and infuriate them with silly mental errors, often during the same game.
But he was the team's most consistent point guard during the NBA Finals. Chalmers averaged 11.8 points and 3.5 assists and was tapped to start when it became clear Mike Bibby would not cut it against the Dallas Mavericks.
Chalmers shot 40.0% from beyond the arc during the Finals, including a game-tying three pointer late in Miami's Game 2 loss.
During the regular season, his numbers were more pedestrian, averaging 6.4 points and 2.5 assists per game, often in relief. He shot 35.9% from three-point range, exactly league average.
But with Miami's point guard situation unsettled heading into free agency, Chalmers will likely make the rotation in 2011-2012.
David Hill is a Miami native and the former owner of a youth replica Rony Seikaly jersey.
