With roster spots to fill, Heat eyeing Hasbrouck

Mar 15, 2010 - 3:44 AM By TIM REYNOLDS AP Sports Writer

MIAMI(AP) -- With two roster spots available to fill, the Miami Heat are on the cusp of signing former Siena shooting guard Kenny Hasbrouck, a deal that could be done as early as Monday.

Barring an unforeseen development, Hasbrouck is expected to fly to Miami on Monday. If he passes a physical, he'll be offered a contract.

Hasbrouck was with the Heat for several weeks last summer, then got hurt shortly before training camp - which essentially cost him a chance to be with Miami during the 2009 preseason. Of late, Hasbrouck has been in the NBA Development League with Rio Grande Valley, averaging 16.9 points in 10 games since joining that club, including 13 points Sunday night in a 106-101 win over Tulsa.

The Heat had been carrying only 14 players on the roster, one under the league minimum. A second spot opened Friday night when Miami moved Rafer Alston to the suspended list for the remainder of the season, making it clear that Miami was going to strongly consider adding some depth.

"Like a lot of teams that have a spot, you're weighing whether bringing somebody in can actually help, whether it might be a development player (or) somebody you can secure for the summer," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said earlier this month. "And you're also weighing whether that person can disrupt the continuity based on their expectations."

Hasbrouck averaged 14.9 points in 129 games at Siena, helping the Saints of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference win first-round NCAA tournament games in 2008 and 2009. The Saints won the MAAC title again this year.