Smush Parker wants to start at point guard for Heat
MIAMI — Smush Parker, the Heat's only free-agent signee this off-season, didn't hesitate to define his role when he met the local media Monday.
"As of right now we're battling for the starting position, me and Jason Williams," said Smush Parker, the Los Angeles Lakers' starting point guard the past two seasons.
Williams, the Heat's current starter at point guard, has missed at least 20 games each of the past two seasons because of injuries.
Miami was looking to stabilize the point guard position, preferably through an upgrade.
In Smush Parker it got someone who is a proven NBA starter. Smush Parker, the Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant, New Jersey's Jason Kidd and Washington's Gilbert Arenas are the only players to have at least 110 three-pointers and 110 steals each of the past two seasons.
But Smush Parker also lost his job to Jordan Farmar late last season.
Smush Parker, 26, who was undrafted out of Fordham, bounced around with Cleveland, Detroit and Phoenix before settling with the Los Angeles Lakers two years ago.
His defense is better than Williams' defense, but his ability to run the offense, especially the pick-and-roll, is inferior to Williams'.
Smush Parker, who chose the Heat over the Los Angeles Clippers and Boston, said being a starter wasn't a condition of joining the Heat.
"My decision to come here was based on there was an opportunity at point guard with a great team, a great organization to be a part of," he said. "I'll take advantage of this opportunity whether I'm starting or coming off the bench." The Heat aimed higher at point guard, an off-season priority, by pursuing Milwaukee's Mo Williams with a five-year, $31 million contract.
But Miami ended up signing Smush Parker to a two-year, $5 million deal.
The Heat's backcourt now consists mainly of Dwyane Wade, Jason Williams, Parker, Chris Quinn and Daequan Cook with Eddie Jones, a free agent, possibly returning, and Gary Payton, also a free agent, likely retiring.
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