National Basketball Association

Heat exercise contract option on Mario Chalmers

Published Jun. 18, 2010 4:35 p.m. ET

foxsports

The Miami Heat have exercised the team option for the final year of guard Mario Chalmers' contract on Friday, making him only the third player the club has locked in for the coming season.

Chalmers is due to make just over $850,000 in his third season. The Heat had until next week to decide on the deal.

He has started 104 games in two seasons with the Heat, averaging 8.6 points and 4.2 assists.

Michael Beasley and Daequan Cook are the other players the Heat are assured to have under contract after June 30, when Dwyane Wade is expected to opt out of the final year of his deal and become an unrestricted free agent.