Alston suspended by Heat, parting likely imminent
FORT LAUDERDAL SUN-SENTINEL — Rafter Alston’s comeback with the Miami Heat apparently has come to an end.
The veteran point guard was suspended indefinitely without pay Saturday after failing to make himself available to the team.
Alston failed to report for practice Friday, which the team did not initially disclose, and then did not appear at Saturday’s victory over the Atlanta Hawks.
According to the team, as of early Sunday morning Alston had not made himself available other than by text message.
His abrupt departure from the team came a day after he was demoted from his starting role in Thursday’s overtime victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.
Alston, who was signed Jan. 7 to add punch to a shaky rotation at point guard, was benched for the final three quarters of Tuesday’s victory over the Golden State Warriors and then replaced in the starting lineup Thursday by Carlos Arroyo, not seeing any action in that game.
Alston was listed as inactive for Saturday’s victory. He initially was listed as being away from the team due to a personal matter.
Alston, who had thrived during his first stint with the team, in 2003-04, had expected to play a major role in the Heat’s playoff push when he negotiated a buyout with the New Jersey Nets in early January.
He then started each of his first 25 appearances with the Heat, before Arroyo was pushed back to the top of the rotation at the position.
With coach Erik Spoelstra preferring to keep second-year Mario Chalmers, last season’s full-season starter at point guard, with the second unit, Alston wound up falling to third string, similar to what he experienced during his final days with the Nets.
As with his stint in New Jersey, Alston was unable to consistently make outside shots for the Heat.
Should Alston be released, he would stand ineligible for another team’s playoff roster, although he would still be eligible to sign with another team this season.
Asked after Saturday’s victory over the Hawks whether he had a confrontation with Alston, who has been known for a fiery temper, Spoelstra said he had not. Alston was visibly disappointed by his inactivity in the games leading to the latest absence.
It was just a year ago when Alston was acquired at midseason from the Houston Rockets by the Orlando Magic, helping lead the Magic to the 2009 NBA Finals.
After that five-game series loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, Alston was dealt to the Nets in the trade that sent Vince Carter to Orlando.
Alston had hoped to not only finish this season with the Heat, but, as a free agent, potentially return in 2010-11.
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