<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">MIAMI (AP) -- Damon Jones decided not to exercise the option year of his contract with the Miami Heat on Thursday and was to become a free agent. Jones, the Heat's starting point guard this past season, had until midnight Thursday to invoke a $2.75 million option for 2005-06. He can negotiate with teams starting Friday, but cannot sign with the Heat or any other club until July 22. </div> Source
This was a bad move by Damon Jones to opt out of his contract. If he had one year left he should have played it out, because the Heat will probably be a contender for about one or two more years until Shaquille O'Neal slows down. He averaged a career high in points (11.6) and rebounds (2.8) with the Heat this season I would be very surprised if the Heat resign him now with Haslem being there key off season concern they will probably have to spend a pretty good amount of money to keep him. Jones should have played out his contract, and tried to win a championship with the Heat his last six years in the National Basketball Association were no where near the one he had this season. I do not know if that is attributed with the fact he played with Shaq or that he improved, but I will go out on a limb here and attribute a good part of his success to the opportunities he created for him. I do not see the Heat suffering much from this though they lost Skip to My Lou last off season, and everyone thought that would be a big lose then they went out and got Jones. I would not be surprised to see them contact Antonio Daniels. Daniels played a key part in Seattle's playoff run last season, and is a very good shooter I would take him over Jones right now just my opinion on him though. A guy like Derek Fisher might also be an option possibly Gary Payton who knows. Fisher is looking for a place where he can start, and play good minutes, and his relationship with Shaq from their Laker days may influence a trade to the Heat. Payton has said he wants to return to the West Coast, but a chance to play with a contender like the Heat might cause him to change his mind.
i think i noe y. he thinks he might get replaced wit a different point gurad and he doens want to be a 6th man. hes lookin for a team that will start him
wow so it looks like damon would rather not win a ring and play somewhere else, then stay with the heat az a 6th man then get a ring!
