HEAT Adds Free Agents Isaac Austin and Joe Crispin

HEAT President and Head Coach Pat Riley announced September 29 that free agents Isaac Austin and Joe Crispin have signed contracts with the team. Per team policy, terms of their respective deals were not released.

Austin, a nine-year NBA veteran, last played in the NBA during the 2001-02 season with the Memphis Grizzlies. The 6'10", 288-pound center has career averages of 7.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, 0.5 blocked shots and 19.3 minutes per game. Drafted by the Utah Jazz in the second round (48th overall) of the 1991 NBA Draft, Austin has played with seven different franchises including the Jazz (1991-93), Philadelphia (1993-94), Miami (1996-98), L.A. Clippers (1997-98), Orlando (1998-99), Washington (1999-00) and Vancouver/Memphis (2000-02).

His best season in the NBA came during the 1996-97 campaign with the HEAT where he averaged career highs of 9.7 points, 5.8 rebounds and 22.9 minutes per game. He was selected as the NBA's Most Improved Player after posting 39 double-figure scoring games, 13 double-figure rebounding games and 11 double-doubles (points-rebounds). He also shot a career high 50 percent from the field. Austin played in all 82 games during that season with 17 starts. He started 14 consecutive games from Feb. 23 to March 23 and averaged 15.1 points and 8.2 rebounds in 34.5 minutes per game.

Crispin, a 6'0", 185-pound guard was originally signed by the L.A. Lakers on August 9, 2001, after going un-drafted in the 2001 NBA Draft. In seven preseason games for the Lakers, he averaged 6.4 points, 1.7 assists and 14.4 minutes, while shooting 40.0 percent from the three-point line. He saw action in six regular season games for the Lakers from Nov. 11 through Nov. 23 and averaged 1.7 points before being waived on Nov. 25. Following his departure from Los Angeles, Crispin played for the Southern California Surf of the ABA and averaged 36.0 points while shooting 47.7 percent from the field and 46 percent from the three-point line in his first three games. He signed as a free agent with the Phoenix Suns in January and appeared in 15 games, averaging 4.6 points and 1.6 assists.

A standout at Penn State, Crispin gained All Big-Ten First Team honors as a senior after averaging 19.5 points and boosting his team to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen. He averaged 15.6 points and 3.8 assists in 127 career games at Penn State.