Mario Chalmers relishing latest stint with Heat

Heat guard Mario Chalmers is enjoying every second of his 10-day hardship reunion with Miami, as Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated relays. Chalmers made four straight NBA Finals appearances with the Heat from 2011-2014, winning two championships in the process.

“He is a major part of the banners that are up there,” Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra said. “We were together from the beginning of his career. A lot of development was spent with Rio in the summer, working with our staff, preparing himself to be one of the mainstays of those championship years. I really enjoyed seeing his growth and progress as a professional and as a human being.”

Unfortunately, Chalmers was a DNP-CD for his three active games, then was moved to the inactive list after Duncan Robinson and Max Strus returned from the health and safety protocols. His contract expires Jan. 9. Chalmers says he doesn’t have any expectations going forward, but he’s grateful for the opportunity.

“I really don’t know what to expect,” Chalmers said, per Spears. “I hope I get another 10-day contract. I hope I get to sign for the rest of the year. The biggest thing is to keep playing. Expectations? I really don’t have none. Let’s see what happens. …

“I just appreciate them giving me the opportunity to come back and getting the love from the fans. Even though I haven’t gotten a home game, I still have got a lot of love from Heat fans saying, ‘Welcome back.'”

Here’s more from Miami:

• Spoelstra told reporters, including Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald (Twitter link), that forward Markieff Morris, who’s missed 30 straight games with a neck injury, was able to participate in part of the Heat’s practice Friday.
• Heat veteran Udonis Haslem, who has played his entire 19-year NBA career with the Heat, has cleared the health and safety protocols, Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press tweets.
• Big man Chris Silva was distraught when the Heat traded him last March, Chiang writes for the Herald, but he says his 10-day hardship contract is a welcome return to Miami. “When I signed a 10-day with the Heat, I felt like I signed a multiyear contract,” Silva said with a laugh ahead of the Heat’s matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center on Wednesday night. “The Heat fans were sending me posts and messages welcoming me back. When I stepped in the locker room, I saw a couple faces that I recognized. I saw the coaching staff, I knew everybody.” Through four games with the Heat this season, Silva is averaging 5.3 points and 4.8 rebounds in 12 minutes per contest.