The Heat reportedly signed undrafted Virginia Commonwealth guard Briante Weber.
But he’s not making it to Miami.
Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel:The Miami Heat’s training-camp roster is back down to 18 players, two fewer than the league maximum, with undrafted Virginia Commonwealth guard Briante Weber unable to pass his physical due to the knee injury he sustained last season.
“It was a situation I would describe as one we knew could occur,” agent Bill Neff told the Sun Sentinel. “Our goal was we want to be with the Heat. That has not changed.”
It’s unclear whether Weber took this physical before or after he officially signed his contract, but the difference is academic. A team can void a player’s contract if he fails a physical within three business days of the contract’s execution.
I’m not sure why Weber and the Heat went to this trouble – whether it’s officially signing the deal or even just announcing it – if his agent knew Weber would fail the physical. What’s the point? This sounds like spin after the fact.
Weber tore his ACL in January, and that’s a big reason he went undrafted. Otherwise, he would have been intriguing as an athletic and hyperactive defender. If he gets healthy and works his way to Miami, he could help the Heat return to their trapping defense.
In the meantime this is good news for the five Miami players without guaranteed salaries – Keith Benson, Tyler Johnson, James Ennis, Greg Whittington and Corey Hawkins – who are seemingly vying for two regular-season roster spots. Those five face one fewer competitor.