MIAMI, Oct. 23 (UPI) -- The Miami Heat agreed to a contract with troubled point guard Rod Strickland on Monday.
Terms of the contract were not disclosed.
Despite the Heat's dedication to a younger roster, they signed the 35-year-old Strickland, who has played for four teams during a 13-year, problem-laced career during which he garnered a reputation for consistently missing practices and team meetings and alienating teammates and coaches.
A good ball handler with 7,026 career assists, Strickland began last season with the Washington Wizards before being waived. He signed a free agent contract with the Portland Trail Blazers on March 5.
Strickland was suspended last season by Washington coach Leonard Hamilton, who then helped arrange a $2.5 million contract buyout. Strickland also was suspended by the Wizards in 1997 for fighting with teammate Tracy Murray.
Miami will use Strickland to fill the void left by veteran point guard Tim Hardaway, who was traded to the Dallas Mavericks in the offseason.
Strickland, who also has played for New York and San Antonio, led the NBA in assists in 1998. He is third among active players and eighth all time with 7,026 and has placed in the top 10 seven times. Strickland is just one of seven players in NBA history to record 12,000 points and 7,000 assists. He has averaged 14.5 points, 7.9 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 1.62 steals in 894 career games.
