Miami Heat sign Eddie Jones, waive Robert Hite
InsideHoops.com NewsWire | Feb. 1, 2007
The Miami HEAT announced today that they have signed free agent guard Eddie Jones and requested waivers on guard Robert Hite. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Jones, a 6’6”, 200-pound guard, returns to Miami after playing one and a half seasons for the Memphis Grizzlies. Prior to that, he spent five seasons with the HEAT, leading the club in scoring average a franchise-best four consecutive seasons. Jones was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers with the 10th overall pick in the 1994 NBA Draft, then was obtained by the Charlotte Hornets in a trade on March 10, 1999. He was then acquired by the HEAT in a sign-and-trade deal on August 1, 2000. After five seasons with the HEAT, he was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies in the biggest trade in NBA history that included five teams and 13 players. Jones was then waived by Memphis on January 30, 2007. In his 13 NBA seasons, he has averaged 15.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.78 steals in 35.4 minutes per game.
The three-time NBA All-Star ranks in the top 10 in many statistical categories in HEAT history, including free throw percentage (2nd), three-point field goals made (3rd) and attempted (3rd), steals (5th), double-figure scoring efforts (5th), field goals attempted (5th), games started (6th), assists (6th), minutes played (6th), free throws made (6th) and attempted (6th), field goals made (6th), total rebounds (8th), defensive rebounds (8th) and in games played (9th). While with the HEAT, Jones appeared in 352 games (347 starts) and averaged 16.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.33 steals in 37.1 minutes including three playoff appearances.
Jones was named NBA All-Defensive Second Team on three occasions, is a one-time NBA Player of the Month and a one-time Eastern Conference Player of the Week.
Hite appeared in 12 games for Miami, averaging 4.3 points and 1.3 rebounds in 11.3 minutes per game. His best effort was a 16-point, three rebound performance vs. the L.A. Clippers on January 3.
Hite was originally signed by the HEAT on August 4, 2006 as an undrafted free agent.
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