Michael Beasley, Roger Mason Jr. have contracts guaranteed with Heat
MIAMI -- The Miami Heat guaranteed the contracts of forward Michael Beasley and guard Roger Mason, Jr., for the remainder of the season when a 5 p.m. deadline passed with no roster moves being made.
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Both players had signed non-guarantee contracts for the league minimum before the season.
Keeping Beasley was a no brainer. Although he continues to work on his defense, Beasley has provided energy and scoring (11.1 points per game) off the bench.
Mason, however, was another story. He had played in 16 of 34 games entering Tuesday's night meeting with the New Orleans Pelicans at American Airlines Arena.
"When I decided to sign here, I knew the situation but I knew it was a great opportunity for me," Mason said before Tuesday night's game. "You put your best foot forward, help the team when you are called on the court and off the court and let the chips fall way they may."
Mason, who plays both guard positions, was averaging 3.9 points. The journeyman is in his 10th NBA season and playing for his eighth team.
Beasley was averaging 4.4 rebounds and 18.9 minutes in 21 games for Miami, which drafted him out of Kansas State in 2008. He played two seasons with the Heat before spending the following three seasons with Minnesota (2 years) and Phoenix.
You can follow Charlie McCarthy on Twitter @mccarthy_chas or email him at mac1763@bellsouth.net.
