Miami Heat: James Jones and Rashard Lewis Exercise Player Options

James Jones and Rashard Lewis will return to the Heat in 2013-14

James Jones and Rashard Lewis will stay in Miami next season. The Heat reserves exercised player options for the 2013-14 season on Tuesday, ensuring the Heat will still be loaded with three-point shooters when they aim for a three-peat.

Jones will play his sixth season with the Heat. In 2012-13, he appeared in 38 games, attempting just 1.6 shots per appearance. The Miami native and UM grad is a career 40 percent three-point shooter, and won the NBA Three-Point Shootout in 2011.

Lewis came to the Heat last offseason as a free agent. He appeared in 55 games (starting 9), shooting 39 percent from three-point range and scoring 5 points a game.

While both played very few minutes in the playoffs (33 minutes for Jones, 47 for Lewis), either could see more opportunities to play next season if the Heat decide to waive Mike Miller under the amnesty clause this summer.

VIDEO: Miami Celebrates the Heat Win With Victory Parade

Instituted after the 2011 lockout, the clause allows teams a one-time opportunity to waive a player without his salary counting towards the salary cap or the luxury tax.

Miller is due to make $6.2 million next season, and Miami will most likely have a salary above the luxury tax threshold, making him expendable. With their ability to space the floor with their three-point shooting, Lewis and Jones would both have a chance to fill up some of the 15 minutes per game that belonged to Miller last season.

With Jones and Lewis signed, that leaves only centers Chris "Birdman" Andersen, Juwan Howard, and Jarvis Varnado unsigned heading into the offseason.

Who's the Next Miami Champion?

Contact Us