MIAMI, Aug. 6 -- The Miami Heat, looking to fortify their bench, have signed free agent veteran swingman Kendall Gill to a one-year contract. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
As an 11-year veteran, Gill, 33, must receive no less than $1 million for the 2001-02 season. He once said that the long and strenuous practice sessions held by Miami Coach Pat Riley shaved years off of players' careers and that he didn't believe the Heat could win an NBA title under his leadership.
"Of course things are going to be said about what I allegedly said a couple years ago,' Gill told the Miami Herald. "But that's water under the bridge. There's no significance to those comments. I believe this team can win an NBA championship. I'm 33 years old now, and my window of opportunity (to win a title) is closing."
The Heat have lost swingmen Dan Majerle and Bruce Bowen to free agency this offseason and appear unlikely to re-sign forward Anthony Mason. That should create some minutes for Gill, who also has played shooting guard.
"Kendall brings a new dimension," Riley told the paper. "He's an athletic presence who is a proven scorer and an excellent defender.'
Last year, Gill turned down a similar offer from the Los Angeles Lakers to return to the New Jersey Nets, signing a one-year, $7 million deal. He suffered through an injury-plagued season, and averaged 9.1 points and 4.2 rebounds in just 31 games.
In his last injury-free season, the 1999-2000 campaign, he averaged 13.1 points per game. In 718 career games, the 6-5, 216-pounder has averaged 15.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and nearly two steals per game. Ironically, he once set a league record by making 11 steals in a single game against Miami.
