HoopsHype.com Rumors

Joseph Goodman: THE BIRDMAN on his pregame handshake with Mike Miller: "It's a club. You can't join unless it's blood in and then blood out." Twitter @JoeGoodmanJr

Miami Heat, Mike Miller, Chris Andersen 

Joseph Goodman: MIKE MILLER on secret handshake with THE BIRDMAN: "It's Rated 'R,' so that'd be a bad story, bro." Twitter @JoeGoodmanJr

Miami Heat, Mike Miller, Chris Andersen 

There was a time, just 10 months ago, when Mike Miller not only didn't think he would be in position to challenge for playoff playing time, but wasn't sure he even would be playing. "I was very close to quitting," he said, as the Miami Heat turned their attention to Wednesday night's regular-season finale against the Orlando Magic at AmericanAirlines Arena. "If I felt like I was going to be a liability for this team, I was going to." Then came an offseason of rigorous rehabilitation on his balky back, followed by minimal playing time for the opening months of the season. Now? "Right now," he said, "I feel great. "The way I feel, I feel better than I have in the last four years." South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Miami Heat, Mike Miller 

He was so certain he would be an amnesty release by the team this past offseason, a move that would provide the Heat significant luxury-tax relief, that he sold his Hillsboro Beach home. With the luxury tax becoming exponentially more punitive this offseason, he's braced for the impending playoff run being his final hours with the Heat. "I mean, that's always going to be a situation with our team, if you look at the way our team was structured and is structured," he said. "With the new CBA, that's always going to be an issue, always going to be a topic. That's going to be completely up to them and they'll make the decision." South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Miami Heat, Mike Miller 

Joseph Goodman: Heat locker room screaming "lob city" as #FGCU throws down against #Gators. LeBron cheering the loudest. Miller and Haslem not happy. Twitter @JoeGoodmanJr

Miami Heat, LeBron James, Udonis Haslem, Mike Miller, NCAA 

Ethan J. Skolnick: It's unbelievable that Mike Miller is moving this well after his offseason rehab. Like he never had back problem. Twitter @EthanJSkolnick

Miami Heat, Mike Miller 

But Miller, 32, who rehabbed during the summer while not picking up a basketball for more than two months, feels like a new man and wants to play at least two more seasons after this one. He said this is the healthiest he’s been in a long time. FOXSports Florida

Miami Heat, Mike Miller 

Mike Miller grew during the offseason. Well, at least that’s the word on the Miami Heat. The swingman long has been listed at 6-foot-8. But this season he’s said to really be that height. “He’s 6-8 again,’’ cracked Heat center Chris Bosh. “He’s not hunched over.’’ FOXSports Florida

Miami Heat, Mike Miller 

“I feel better than I've felt in five years. I don’t know what it is,’’ Miller, scarcely believing he could feel so good after electing not to have surgery during the offseason, said in an interview with FOX Sports Florida. “I've dealt with something every year for the last four. So, knock on wood, I feel great, I feel real good.’’ FOXSports Florida

Miami Heat, Mike Miller 

Ethan J. Skolnick: Mike Miller found out he was starting tonight when reporters told him. His reaction? "Let it fly." Twitter @EthanJSkolnick

Miami Heat, Mike Miller 

For those wondering, Mike Miller is not injured. At least that's what he told me on Tuesday when I asked him why he hasn't been playing lately. Miller started the first game of the preseason and played 17 minutes but hasn't sniffed the court since. "No, I'm good," Miller said when asked if he was injured. "We've just got a stacked team. I'm just going to keep working and hopefully find a spot." Miami Herald

Miami Heat, Mike Miller, Injuries 

#Heat Mike Miller needs to see how back responds over the long haul. Didn't rule out chance this his last NBA season. "We got to see if I can make it through one," Miller said when asked how many more years he hopes to play. "That's all I can do right now. I got to focus on what I can do this year and make sure I stay healthy and stay on top of things, and see how it goes." Sulia

Miami Heat, Mike Miller 

Dan Woike: The #Clippers have hired shooting coach Bob Thate to work w/ DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin. Thate pupils include Jason Kidd, Mike Miller Twitter @DanWoikeSports

Los Angeles Clippers, Blake Griffin, Jason Kidd, Mike Miller, DeAndre Jordan, Bob Thate 

Ethan J. Skolnick: As has been reported elsewhere, Mike Miller is getting around much better than at end of last season. Three hrs per day of rehab has helped. Twitter

Miami Heat, Mike Miller, Injuries 

Instead of gaining a $2.9 million injury exception for a replacement player, the Heat apparently will have the real thing, with Miller hoping to pick up where he left off, which just happened to be with seven 3-pointers in the Game 5 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder that gave the Heat their second championship. South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Miami Heat, Mike Miller, Injuries 

From there, rigorous rehab in place of expected back surgery has delivered the 12-year-veteran to the precipice of a camp some thought the 32-year-old never would make, with Miller in contact with Miami neurosurgeon Dr. Barth Green throughout the process. "I basically looked at my options and back surgery, with Dr. Green pretty confident that we could get it to where I need to be without it. So we're slowly but surely getting there," he said at a Saturday promotional appearance at Maye Pediatric Dentistry and Shelling Orthodontics along with teammates James Jones and Udonis Haslem, who was there to collect contributions for the Udonis Haslem Children's Foundation. "My body feels good. Like I said, we've just got to be smart about it." South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Miami Heat, Mike Miller, Injuries 

The deal to buy Miami Heat sharpshooter Mike Miller’s house in Pompano Beach was supposed to have been consummated by now. Actually, it’s been six weeks since the unidentified buyer who won the $5.4 million, beachfront mansion in an auction placed his deposit in escrow. Yet Miller’s name remains on the deed, according to Broward County records. What happened? Miami Herald

Miami Heat, Mike Miller 

Unbeknownst to Miller, whose three-point barrage in Game 5 of the NBA Finals put the Heat firmly in sight of the NBA’s grand prize, the title to the 10,000-square-foot, eight-bedroom crib wasn’t really clear! "It’s not something that Mr. Miller did wrong," said auctioneer Trayor Lesnock. His company, Platinum Luxury Auctions, sold the property in a no-minimum-bid affair. "The sale is still on but hasn’t been recording because the lawyers are still talking." Lesnock said investigators found an out-of-state lien that resulted from a lawsuit involving two previous owners. "There was a court hearing in New Jersey to clear the title," Lesnock said. "That paperwork is still pending." Miami Herald

Miami Heat, Mike Miller 

Mike Miller confirmed that he is back in the gym after an offseason of surgery and rehab and is eyeing a return to the NBA for another season. Weeks after winning an NBA championship with the Miami Heat in June, Miller had surgery to correct a host of injuries that caused him to miss 17 of 66 games last season. He averaged only six points per game in 19 minutes for the Heat last year but played a pivotal role in the crucial Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder, shooting 7-9 from three and scoring 23 points overall. SI.com

Miami Heat, Mike Miller, Injuries 

Miller limped through much of this past season, his back pain so severe at times that he couldn't even sit on the Heat bench during games. He has been consulting with Miami neurosurgeon Dr. Barth Green throughout this offseason, and the expectation now is that a combination of rest and rehabilitation should be enough to get him ready to play again. "No retirement," Miller said Tuesday. Miller made an appearance for about 600 children at a basketball camp he sponsored, walking in to roars from the kids and chants of his last name. And when told that Hialeah, a city just north of Miami, believes it was the epicenter of the biggest party to celebrate the Heat championship, Miller tipped his hand as to his future plans. "Then let's party again next year," Miller said. cbc.ca

Miami Heat, Mike Miller