MIAMI — James Jones talked about retiring after last season. But there are no such thoughts now.
The Miami shooting guard plans to pick up his $1.5 million player option for next season and return to the Heat.
“Unless something crazy happens, I’ll be back,’’ Jones said Wednesday in an interview with FOX Sports Florida.
Jones said after the Heat won the championship last season he “most definitely’’ was thinking about retiring. But he returned this season and now says he’s not considering retirement.
“Not at all,’’ Jones said. “Those stories get blown up.’’
Jones, 32, is making $1.5 million this season, although
he has a total take of $3.26 million when one considers buyout money he got
from the Heat in the summer of 2010. After also earning $1.5 million next
season, Jones then plans to evaluate his situation.
“I got one more year, and we’ll see where it goes from there,’’ Jones said of what he might do after next season.
The 10-year veteran played in just 38 regular-season games this season and averaged 1.6 points. It’s not out of the question, though, he could play a bigger role for the Heat next year.
Shooting guard Ray Allen won’t make a decision until after the season whether he will pick up his $3.23 million option for 2013-14. And there’s a strong chance the Heat will release shooting guard Mike Miller as part of the NBA’s amnesty rule.
"That's great news,'' Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said of Jones planning to return next season. “J.J. is a Miami Heat guy.’’ Jones, who played at the University of Miami and is in his fifth season with the Heat, is one of two Miami natives on the roster. The other is forward Udonis Haslem, who played at Florida. “They're special,’’ Spoelstra said of Jones and Haslem. “All of our guys are special in this organization, but they're Miami-bred guys. They're Miami true and blue.''
Chris Tomasson can be reached at christomasson@hotmail.com
or on Twitter @christomasson.
