Mario Chalmers will remain with the Miami Heat in 2011-2012. ESPN.com reported Friday that the Heat point guard agreed to a contract, but details of the deal were not disclosed. The news comes as training camps officially open in advance of NBA season.

After starting all 82 games his rookie season, Chalmers started only 51 games in the following two seasons. He averaged 6.4 points and 2.5 assists per game in 2010-2011, but came alive in the playoffs, scoring 11.8 points per game in the Heat's NBA Finals loss to the Dallas Mavericks.

The team extended a qualifying offer to Chalmers in June, just before the lockout started. A restricted free agent after his third season in the NBA, Chalmers is now expected to be Miami's starting point guard.

Chalmers began last season on the bench behind Carlos Arroyo, but had become the starting point guard by midseason. He was back on the bench in March when the team picked up Mike Bibby, but by the later rounds of the playoffs Chalmers was back in the starting lineup, thanks largely to his defensive edge over Bibby.

The Heat is thin at point guard, so signing Chalmers was one of the team's top priorities. Besides Chalmers, first-round draft pick Norris Cole and veteran Eddie House are the only other point guards on the Heat's roster. Cole and House will likely compete for playing time in a backup role.

The Heat is currently rumored to be interested in New York Knicks point guard Chauncey Billups, who may be released by the Knicks under the amnesty clause. Wishing to make salary cap space for free agent center Tyson Chandler, the Knicks' potential loss of Billups could be Miami's gain.

Billups shot 40% from three-point range last season. He has one year and $14.2 million left on his contract with the Knicks, but Miami could get him for cheap thanks to the amnesty clause. Billups reportedly wants to play for a title contender, so doubtless he would listen if the Heat come calling.

Regardless of what happens with Billups, the team will be happy to have Chalmers in tow this season. Valued for his defense and fearless shooting.

After agreeing to his deal, Chalmers tweeted Friday morning, "Imma MIAMI HEAT player until they don't want me no more. Let's get this ring."