Mashburn On IR, Heat Sign Blue

The Miami Heat, seeking another scorer after injuries to Jamal Mashburn and Voshon Lenard, signed former Utah and Vancouver swingman Blue Edwards on Sunday.

Miami also placed Mashburn on injured reserve with a deep knee bruise and waived center Amal McCaskill from the injured list.

Terms of the contract were not disclosed. Under terms of the new collective bargaining agreement, though, the Heat could pay Edwards the pro-rated portion of the nine-year veteran minimum of $850,000.

Edwards' signing had been expected for several days, but Heat officials first wanted to make sure the broken right hand he suffered in December during a pickup game had sufficiently healed.

"My goal is just to come off the bench and be productive," said Edwards, who has an 11.0 career scoring average. Last season, he averaged 10.8 points for Vancouver.

The Heat have been seeking an additional scorer with both Mashburn and Lenard -- who combined to average 27.7 points last season -- out for at least half of the NBA's abbreviated 50-game schedule.

Mashburn is expected to miss 4-6 weeks after hurting the knee in a Feb. 7 win over New York. Lenard underwent surgery Friday to insert a rod into the stress fracture in his left leg; he could miss nearly the entire regular season.

"We don't have another legitimate two-guard that can catch and shoot, that can play pick-and-roll offense, that can post-up, that can defend. And that's what Blue can do," Miami coach Pat Riley said.

The addition of Edwards, at 6-foot-4 and 229 pounds, also can help the Heat with ballhandling. Veteran Terry Porter was signed during training camp as a backup to point guard Tim Hardaway, but has been playing shooting guard because of injuries.

The Heat still must release two players by Thursday evening, when active rosters will be reduced from 14 to 12.

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