Posted Oct 13 2009 11:27PM
MIAMI (AP) -- Carlos Arroyo is back in the NBA, and gets to stay home in Miami for that opportunity.


The Miami Heat signed Arroyo to a one-year contract Monday, which would be worth about $1.1 million if the 30-year-old point guard remains with the club all season.
Arroyo last played in the NBA for the Orlando Magic during the 2007-08 season, spending last season in Israel. The former FIU player still makes his home in Miami, and when the Heat called with the invitation, Arroyo was able to be at practice the very next morning.
"I always wanted to be part of the Heat," said Arroyo, whose wife is a South Florida native.
The Heat needed depth at point guard, and team officials met Saturday to discuss a number of potential candidates. They settled on Arroyo, who Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said is being brought in to play backup to starter Mario Chalmers. But, Spoelstra added, Arroyo "will contend for minutes."
"This is about bolstering our depth," Spoelstra said.
Chris Quinn, who backed up Chalmers last season, is expected to be sidelined for about another week with a right foot injury. Miami also has John Lucas in training camp; he, like Arroyo, is on a nonguaranteed contract.
And in just about every game, the Heat turn to reigning NBA scoring champion Dwyane Wade to play some point guard as well.
Arroyo has played for five other NBA teams in seven seasons, averaging a career-best 12.6 points in 71 games with Utah during the 2003-04 campaign. He's averaged 7.0 points and 3.3 assists per game in his NBA tenure.
He played for Puerto Rico in the 2004 Olympic Games, scoring a team-high 24 points for his country when it stunned the United States 92-73 in an opening-round game.


![]() | The Daily Zap Catch the top highlights and moments from Monday's six games in the NBA in less than two minutes. |
![]() | Monday's Top 10 Make sure to watch the Top 10 plays from another incredible Monday night in the NBA. |
![]() | Steal of the Night Greivis Vasquez gets the steal and throws the ball ahead to Marco Belinelli for the and-one dunk. |
![]() | Nightly Notable LeBron James explodes for 35 points and pulls down eight rebounds in the Heat's victory over the Bucks. |
![]() | Dunk of the Night Vince Carter drives baseline and finishes with the huge wrap-around dunk. |
![]() | Block of the Night Gustavo Ayon stops the dunk attempt at the rim. |
![]() | Assist of the Night Ricky Rubio throws the sweet one-handed blind bounce pass to Kevin Love for the slam. |
![]() | Play of the Day LeBron James splits the defenders and throws down the monster dunk. |
![]() | Suns vs. Warriors David Lee comes up big for the Warriors, scoring 28 points and grabbing 12 rebounds as Golden State beat Phoenix 102-96. |
![]() | Curry to Lee Connection Golden State's Steph Curry hits David Lee cutting into the lane for the jam. |