Former Florida Gators power forward Udonis Haslem has decided to turn down substantially larger offers from competing teams in order to remain with the Miami Heat, agreeing to a five-year, $20 million deal on Monday.

“I would be changing my DNA if I left just for money,” he told the Associated Press.

After signing guard Dwyane Wade to a six-year, $107 million contract and forwards LeBron James and Chris Bosh to identical six-year, $110 million deals, Miami immediately concentrated on bringing two former Florida players under contract.

First, the Heat reached an agreement on a five-year, $30 million deal with guard/forward Mike Miller after trading former No. 2 overall pick PF Michael Beasley for cap space and a second round pick. With each of the “big three” sacrificing $15 million over the life of their deals, Miami made a move to bring back Haslem, Wade’s best friend on the team since the superstar was drafted in 2003.

Haslem drew serious interest from at least three other teams who put tempting offers on the table. The Denver Nuggets and Dallas Mavericks each reportedly offered him a five-year, $34 million mid-level exception contract over the weekend, and the New Jersey Nets offered three years and $20 million last week.

“[I] turned down full mid level [exceptions] from Dallas and Denver. See [yo]u next season,” Haslem said in an e-mail to the paper.

Spending almost his entire life playing basketball in the state of Florida (spent one season in France), he decided to turn down higher contracts in order to play with his friend and be a part of what could be a very special team.

Think Haslem is happy to play with Miller again?

“That’s my boy from day one,” he told the Sun-Sentinel. “That’s my college roommate. He’s like Dwyane is to me, just a different color.”

A seven-year NBA veteran, Haslem earned $7.1 million with the Heat last season. He has averaged 10.0 points and 8.1 rebounds throughout his career.

Photo Credit: Gary Dineen/Getty Images

Tags: Chris Bosh, Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Miami Heat, Mike Miller, NBA, New Jersey Nets, Udonis Haslem

With three perennial NBA All-Stars in guard Dwyane Wade, forward LeBron James and power forward Chris Bosh now committed to play for the Miami Heat, team president and general manager Pat Riley is in the process of filling out the remainder of his roster. Riley hopes that former Florida Gators guard/forward Mike Miller will go a long way to doing just that after quickly signing the widely desired free agent to a five-year, $30 million contract Friday morning.

The former Florida star decided to accept a deal rumored to be substantially less than a “big” sum of money also offered by the Los Angeles Clippers.

Miller, extended almost the exact same contract by the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers on July 1, was rumored to have been given a deadline of Thursday night to decide whether or not he would take the Heat’s offer.

Miami is able to bring in an additional free agent after trading PF Michael Beasley, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, to the Minnesota Timberwolves for a 2011 second-round pick and the option to swap an undisclosed future first-round pick.

Teaming up with Wade, James and Bosh, Miller will have the opportunity to become the third former Gators star to win an NBA Championship with the Heat, following PF Udonis Haslem and point guard Jason Williams. San Antonio Spurs F Matt Bonner has also captured a league title.

He averaged 10.9 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.9 assists last year with the Washington Wizards, his only season with the team.

OGGOA RELATED: Knicks send Lee to Warriors via sign and trade

Tags: Chris Bosh, Draft, Dwyane Wade, Jason Williams, LeBron James, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Matt Bonner, Miami Heat, Michael Beasley, Mike Miller, Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA, Pat Riley, San Antonio Spurs, Udonis Haslem, Washington Wizards

LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and Amar’e Stoudamire may be the names being most talked about right now as far as NBA free agency is concerned, but two former Florida Gators products are also highly coveted and being wooed by teams with varying needs throughout the league.

Former New York Knicks forward/center David Lee, who averaged career-highs of 20.2 points and 11.7 rebounds per game in 2009-10, is one of the most prominent second-tier free agents on the market. The Knicks have interest in re-signing Lee, but it appears more likely that he will catch on elsewhere seeing as he does not want to wait and find out whether or not New York hits a home run or strikes out with James.

According to reports, the Boston Celtics were the first team to contact Lee – just after 12:01 a.m. on July 1 – and are pursuing him the strongest. He will also visit with the Chicago Bulls, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Jersey Nets and Miami Heat.

Also available is former Washington Wizards guard/forward Mike Miller, who posted averages of 10.9 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game last season. The Los Angeles Lakers are hot after Miller and have already offered him a five-year, $30 million contract. They have given him a deadline of July 6 to accept or decline the offer as the team looks to add one more piece for head coach Phil Jackson‘s final season.

Miller previously spoke with the Knicks – who contacted him just after free agency began – and the Heat; he is said to be very intrigued by the possibility of joining New York if the team acquires one or two marquee stars.

UPDATE: After signing point guard Steve Blake to a four-year, $16 million contract, the Lakers have withdrawn their offer for Miller; however, he is expected to be a person of interest as a complimentary peace for teams that sign the major players in free agency.

Photo Credit: Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images

Tags: Amar'e Stoudamire, Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, Chris Bosh, David Lee, Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Mike Miller, Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA, New Jersey Nets, New York Knicks, Phil Jackson, Steve Blake

1 » Former Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow will have plenty of doubters to prove on throughout his career with the Denver Broncos, but he is most concerned with making his new head coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Brian Xanders feel confident in their decision to select him with the No. 25 overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft. “I definitely take pride in the coaches picking me and take pride in the fact that I want to prove them right,” Tebow told NFL.com. “That’ll be a goal of mine in playing in the National Football League – to prove coach McDaniels right and to prove Brian Xanders right and to prove the people that supported me right. That’s something that I’ll take pride in trying to do.” As to him playing as a rookie? “I don’t even think about it like that,” Tebow added. “I think about every day I have to get better, and if I do that, then I’ll be satisfied with myself and going in and getting better every day. Because that’s all I can control and that’s what I’m going to worry about.”

2 » Just one year ago, amid speculation that he might be headed elsewhere, Urban Meyer agreed to a six-year, $24 million contract to remain head coach at Florida. According to ESPN’s Mike Fish, who spoke with Gators athletic director Jeremy Foley, Meyer is on the verge of finally signing his new deal, the terms of which were finalized way back on Aug. 3, 2009. “It’ll get signed sometime in the next month or so, if not sooner,” Foley said. “There are no hang-ups. Bottom line, he has a [previously signed] contract that has four years left to run on it. It’s not like he doesn’t have a contract. And he is getting compensated at the new rate. We have an agreement with Urban Meyer at the new rate, and the contract will get signed here shortly.” Regarding Meyer’s health, Foley remains unfazed. “It’s going to be fine,” he said. “It’s not like I have to worry about him having those issues day-to-day. He is a high-energy guy. He is a guy who has total commitment to what he does. I don’t think that has changed.”

3 » Former Gators forward/center Chris Richard, who appeared in 18 games for the Chicago Bulls last season, was waived by the team on Wednesday. Richard averaged 2.1 points and 3.3 rebounds in 12.4 minutes of action per game and was signed after fellow Florida F/C Joakim Noah was injured during the season. He will likely be signed to Chicago’s summer league roster and may find himself back on the team next year.

4 » With NBA free agency beginning literally as this is typed, some former Gators are available to be signed and others may factor into potential sign-and-trade scenarios. Former New York Knicks F/C David Lee, former Washington Wizards guard Mike Miller and former Miami Heat power forward Udonis Haslem are three of the most prominent “second tier” free agents available. Lee also has the possibility of being involved in a sign-and-trade situation, and Noah could always be moved off of the Bulls in an effort to get a bigger-name free agent under a long-term contract.

Extra BIT » Squidbillies is the name of a cartoon aired during Cartoon Network‘s Adult Swim programming block. Tom Treebow is the name of its new character, a parody of Tebow. He will debut on the show on July 11, but you can catch a glimpse right here.

Photo Credit: Richard Graulich/The Palm Beach Post

Tags: Brian Xanders, Chicago Bulls, Chris Richard, David Lee, Denver Broncos, Draft, Jeremy Foley, Joakim Noah, Josh McDaniels, Miami Heat, Mike Miller, NBA, New York Knicks, NFL, Squidbillies, Tim Tebow, Tom Treebow, Udonis Haslem, Urban Meyer, Washington Wizards

Florida Gators head coach Billy Donovan added more depth to his frontcourt Tuesday, earning a commitment from three-star power forward recruit Cody Larson (Sioux Falls, SD), according to the Argus Leader. Donovan visited Larson’s hometown Friday, and the former Iowa commit returned the favor by taking a two-day trip to Gainesville, FL, beginning Monday.

At 6’9″ and 225 lbs., Larson is the second forward and third recruit Donovan has signed for his 2010 class in as many days. He averaged 19.9 points, 7.8 rebounds and 4.1 assists at Roosevelt High School and was also being pursued by Kansas, Arizona State and Indiana (among others). However, per Big Ten transfer rules, Larson was prevented from receiving a scholarship offer from a conference team without an appeal.

He decided to seek a release from his commitment to the Hawkeyes after Iowa fired head coach Todd Lickliter and replaced him with Fran McCaffrey, formerly of Siena. The coveted student-athlete was reportedly suspended for the conclusion of his senior season, though the school did not make details public.

Larson is the second recruit Donovan has pulled out of South Dakota during his tenure as Florida’s coach (Mike Miller, 1998-2000). He may not even be the last high schooler on Donovan’s list this year.

The Gators’ coach is still reportedly pursuing two 2011 point guards who appear willing and able to graduate early in order to commit as a part of the team’s 2010 class. Either Matt Carlino (Bloomington, IN) or Scottie Wilbekin (Gainesville, FL) could potentially be Florida’s fifth 2010 commitment.

Whoever chooses to sign would join Larson, four-star forwards Patric Young (Jacksonville, FL) and Casey Prather (Jackson, TN), three-star Will Yeguete (Melbourne, FL) and Rutgers transfer guard Mike Rosario (Jersey City, NJ), though Rosario will not be eligible to play until 2011-12.

In order to sign five recruits to scholarships, further changes are likely abound inside the Florida program. Sophomore guard Ray Shipman has already decided to transfer, many believe freshman point guard Rod Tishman may return to Israel, redshirt sophomore forward Adam Allen could retire and junior forward Alex Tyus has submitted his name for evaluation for the 2010 NBA Draft. Florida would need either Tishman, Allen or Tyus to leave the program or else it would exceed its allotment of 13 scholarships.

Photo Credit: Des Moines Register

Tags: Adam Allen, Alex Tyus, Big Ten, Billy Donovan, Casey Prather, Cody Larson, Draft, Fran McCaffrey, Iowa Hawkeyes, Matt Carlino, Mike Miller, Mike Rosario, NBA, Patric Young, Ray Shipman, Rod Tishman, Scottie Wilbekin, Todd Lickliter, Will Yeguete

The 2009 NBA season tipped off Tuesday night, and nine former Florida Gators standouts look to make an impact in the league this year. Some won National Championships while in the Orange & Blue, others went undrafted – all want to prove that the Gators program can produce legitimate NBA stars.

Al Horford, F/C, Atlanta Hawks
2008 – Averaged 11.5 points on 0.525 shooting in 33.5 minutes. Also contributed 9.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.4 blocks. Led his team to the second round of the 2009 NBA Playoffs, where they were swept by the Cleveland Cavaliers.
2009 – While still young, The Godfather is becoming the leader, heart and soul of the Hawks. Horford tweaked his ankle this week and is probable to play Wednesday night in the team’s season opener.

David Lee, F/C, New York Knicks
2008 – Averaged a double-double with 16 points on 0.549 shooting and 11.7 rebounds in 34.9 minutes. First Knicks player since Patrick Ewing with 30 points and 20 rebounds in a game; 11th Knick to score 10 consecutive double-doubles.
2009 – Looking for a big money five- or six-year deal in the offseason, Lee signed a one-year $7 million contract with the Knicks. He will start at center and remains the most popular player in the city.

Seven more former Gators profiled after the jump…
Continue Reading » Gators look to make impact as NBA season begins

Tags: Al Horford, Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Corey Brewer, Dallas Mavericks, David Lee, Jason Williams, Joakim Noah, Marreese Speights, Matt Bonner, Miami Heat, Mike Miller, Minnesota Timberwolves, National Championship, NBA, New York Knicks, Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers, San Antonio Spurs, Udonis Haslem, Washington Wizards