[ESPN:] qyntel woods to the heat

Wednesday, January 26, 2005

SportsTicker

MIAMI -- The Miami Heat have given Qyntel Woods a second chance.

Qyntel Woods
Woods

Woods -- who has been twice suspended, arrested and waived since the start of the season -- was signed by the Heat on Wednesday.

Terms were not disclosed. Woods was in the final year of a three-year, $1.1 million rookie contract he signed in 2002 with the Portland Trail Blazers, who released him from the suspended list five days ago.

That day, Woods, 23, pleaded guilty in an Oregon court to abusing his pit bull. He was sentenced to 12 months' probation and 80 hours of community service.

The plea agreement stemmed from an incident for which Woods was being investigated for a felony charge that he had participated in or possibly hosted a dog-fighting event. He was suspended by the team Oct. 12.

While suspended, Woods was found to be in violation of the NBA's drug policy and drew a five-game suspension from the league. Now that he's on an active roster, he will begin serving that suspension -- starting with Wednesday night's game at Toronto. He will be eligible to play Feb. 5 vs. Chicago.

Woods did not distinguish himself on the court, either. The 6-8 forward has averaged just 3.1 points in 115 games since entering the NBA after three seasons at a pair of community colleges.

The Heat lead the Southeast Division and the Eastern Conference with a 30-13 record but are looking to add depth at small forward behind Eddie Jones, who also plays guard, and Rasual Butler.

The Heat also waived forward Jerome Beasley and placed guard Wesley Person on the injured list with right patella tendinitis.

A 2003 second-round pick, Beasley had spent the entire season on the IL. He played two games last season.

Person, 33, was signed as a free agent in the offseason. The 11-year veteran had averaged 3.9 points in 16 games this season.