By Paul Levine Jul 13, 2005, 17:53 GMT
Los Angeles - While the Miami Heat look to work out a long- term deal to re-sign All-Star centre Shaquille O'Neal, power forward Udonis Haslem agreed Wednesday on a five-year contract extension worth a reported 34 million dollars to return.
"He's thrilled to be back," Haslem's agent Jonathan Levien told the Miami Herald. "He had opportunities elsewhere, but his heart is in Miami. We had a couple conversations about what the possibility of more money elsewhere would mean to him, but he concluded ultimately that he wanted to be here."
The Cleveland Cavaliers were willing to offer Haslem a deal worth up to 10 million dollars more than the Heat's offer, but the Miami native prefered to remain loyal and at home, according to the newspaper.
Haslem, however, cannot sign a contract until the league's player movement moratorium is lifted on July 22.
Haslem went undrafted until the Heat gave the University of Miami product a chance. In his rookie season, he averaged 7.3 points and 6.3 rebounds in 75 games before being named to the NBA All-Rookie second team.
In his second season, Haslem averaged 10.9 points and 9.1 rebounds in 80 games. He also ranked fourth in the league in field-goal shooting percentage (.540) for the Heat, who had the best regular- season mark in the Eastern Conference (59-23).
He averaged 9.2 points and 10 rebounds in all 15 playoffs games as the Heat advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals before bowing to the Detroit Pistons in seven games.
Meanwhile, O'Neal is reportedly close to opting out of the final year of his contract, which is scheduled to pay him over 30 million dollars in 2005-06, in order to sign a new five-year pact.
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