http://www.nba.com/heat/news/gill_010805.html?nav=ArticleListMIAMI, Aug. 5 -- Miami HEAT President and Head Coach Pat Riley announced Sunday that the HEAT has signed free agent guard/forward Kendall Gill. As per club policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Gill, a 6-5, 215-pound guard/forward, has averaged 15.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.76 steals and 32.5 minutes in 749 games during his 11-year career, the last five of which were spent with the New Jersey Nets. The Illinois graduate has a career .440 field goal percentage (4,373-for-9,945) and a .755 career free throw percentage (2,180-for-2,888). He has averaged better than double-figures in scoring in 10 of his 11 NBA seasons. Gill has also appeared in 21 playoff games, where he averaged 13.9 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.67 steals in 32.3 minutes per game. Appearing in 31 games last season for the Nets, Gill averaged 9.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists and a team-high 1.52 steals in 28.8 minutes per game. He scored in double-figures in 12 games, including a season-high 22 vs. Seattle on Nov. 11, 2000, while recording two or more steals in 14 games. He finished the 1999-2000 season ranked first in the league in steals-per-turnover ratio at 1.56:1. During the 1998-99 season, Gill led the league in steals at 2.68 per game and tied a NBA record for steals in a game with 11 against Miami on April 3, 1999. He currently stands at third on the Nets' all-time steals list with 652 and seventh on the all-time points list with 4,932. Gill, selected by the Charlotte Hornets as the fifth overall pick in the 1990 NBA Draft, was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team after averaging 11.0 points and 3.7 assists per game. His career includes stints with the Hornets (1990-93, 1996), the Seattle SuperSonics (1993-95) and the Nets (1995, 1996-2001).
This is a very good signing for the Heat, IMO. He's a very good at creating turnovers and with Zo playing behind him he should be free to take plenty of chances.
Gill's departure along with Kittles' "injury-proneness" should create a whole lot of playing time for Richard Jefferson. What's the deal with Kittles anyways..is he supposed to be playing at the start of this season? For the Heat, Gill should be an excellent replacement for Bowen. They are both excellent defenders, but Gill is probably a better offensive player.
Outstanding signing by the Heat. Gill is an awesome defender, and between him and Eddie Jones they will put the clamps on opposing wing players and will be able to slash and hurt teams. But I thought Gill turned down an exception from the Lakers last year because the Nets gave him a 6 or 7 year multi-million dollar contract!?
The Heat are going to get 5 steals out of two players. The last 2/3 combo this strong on defense might have been Jordan and Pippen.
Kittle played most of the summer league and did fairly well and is close to 100% health and will definetly be ready for the start of these season, will probably start.
I was at that game in NJ. This guy is quick. I believe he had a points/rebounds/steals triple double. I think the Heat made a very good move in picking him up.
If 'Zo plays like he did before his kidney problems they will be a contender in the weak East next season.
