FILE - Miami Heat forward Meyers Leonard, center, greets his teammates before an NBA basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks, Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2020, in Miami.
(AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, file)MIAMI โ The Miami Heat have turned Meyers Leonard's contract into an opportunity to see if Trevor Ariza can help them for the rest of this season.
AdThe Heat also said they wish Leonard and his wife Elle โthe best of luck in the future.โโHe's going to do everything that he possibly can to grow and get better from everything this week," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.
Ariza has not played an NBA game since March 10, 2020, but the Heat clearly felt he was worth the low-risk gamble.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver fined Leonard $50,000 and barred him from being around the Heat for one week.