Heat among final choices for free agent Marcus Camby

Heat among final choices for free agent Marcus Camby

Published Jul. 21, 2013 6:38 p.m. ET

The Miami Heat are looking to add another big man. Marcus Camby is a strong possibility.

Sources said Camby, who cleared waivers Sunday after having his contract bought out last week by Toronto, has narrowed his choices as a free agent to the Heat, Houston Rockets and Chicago Bulls. He will decide on a team in the next few days.

The 6-foot-11 Camby was courted by the Heat last summer as a free agent. However, he ended up signing a three-year, $13.2 million deal with New York.

The Knicks traded Camby earlier this month to Toronto in a deal in which big man Andrea Bargnani went to New York. The Raptors then bought out Camby's contract.

The Heat are interested in signing Camby to a minimum contract, which would be worth $1.4 million for next season. Camby turns 40 next March. If forward Juwan Howard, who finished last season with Miami at 40, doesn't play, Camby next season would be the NBA's second-oldest player after Los Angeles Lakers guard Steve Nash. Nash turns 40 in February.

Camby last season had injury problems and averaged just 1.8 points and 3.3 rebounds. In 2011-12, he averaged 4.9 points and 9.0 rebounds with Portland and Houston, which earned him the contract he got from the Knicks.

The Heat are coming off a second straight NBA title, but they have had trouble with bigger teams. While the 220-pound Camby is slender, he is a strong rebounder and defender.

Camby, who has played 17 seasons, has career averages of 9.5 points, 9.8 rebounds and 2.4 blocked shots. He led the NBA in blocks in 1997-98 with Toronto and was the NBA Defensive Player of the Year with Denver in 2006-07.

Chris Tomasson can be reached at christomasson@hotmail.com
or on Twitter @christomasson.

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