Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Heat pass on Sullinger
Former Celtics forward battling weight issue
CLEVELAND — In the wake of Miami Heat President Pat Riley meeting with free-agent forward Jared Sullinger, the team has opted against moving forward with a contract for the former Boston Celtics power forward.
Although the Heat do not have a roster vacancy, one will open once the team begins the process to remove the salary-cap space of sidelined forward Chris Bosh. The Heat, however, are not considering the No. 21 pick in the 2012 NBA draft for such a vacancy.
After the Celtics rescinded a qualifying offer last summer, Sullinger, 25, signed a one-year, $6 million contract with the Toronto Raptors, only to be sidelined during training camp due to foot surgery. Unable to establish a foothold with the Raptors, he was traded to the Phoenix Suns on Feb. 23 for forward P.J. Tucker and the following day released by the Suns. In an article in Sunday’s
Sullinger’s father, Satch Sullinger, noted his son’s ongoing weight issues, with the 6-foot-9 forward, according to the reaching 315 pounds during last season’s playoffs with the Celtics. Satch Sullinger said the family had an intervention in 2015 that included sending his son to John Lucas’ Houston workout facility in Houston.
“It didn’t work,” Satch Sullinger said. “He just wasn’t losing weight, man. But now reality has hit him. Only you can change the image you have created for yourself.”
The Heat have had success over the years in resculpting players such as Ike Austin, Shaquille O’Neal and, this season, James Johnson. But there also have been attempts that have failed under Pat Riley, most notably Eddy Curry.
The possibility of Sullinger joining the Heat became a talking point Monday with the Raptors practicing for two days at the Heat’s AmericanAirlines Arena facilities during a break in their schedule, with the Heat to host Toronto on Saturday night.
Because of the timing of Sullinger’s release by the Suns he would be eligible for a playoff roster. winning championships in 2012 and ’13, after joining the Heat as a free agent in the 2010 offseason.