NBA Rumors: Joel Przybilla Would Be Wasted Roster Spot for Miami Heat

There's desperate and then there's the Miami Heat.

The team keeps digging deeper in the barrel of veteran free agents with the latest name to emerge being Joel Przybilla. Signing him to a deal would amount to nothing more than a wasted roster spot.

Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com provided the details:

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The Heat have offered contracts to both Joel Przybilla and Kenyon Martin, their agents told ESPN.com. Przybilla is expected to make a choice between the Chicago Bulls and Heat, according to agent Bill Duffy. Martin is interested in several teams, with the Heat in the mix, according to agent Andy Miller.

The Sporting News reported Wednesday that Przybilla is planning to make a choice by the end of the week.

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It's no secret the Heat are in need of frontcourt depth, but Przybilla isn't the answer. He hasn't played in more than 31 games in any of the last three seasons, and hasn't even been that effective when he has been healthy enough to play.

He's never been one to provide a spark on the offensive end, never averaging more than six points per game, but the injury woes have taken a toll on his previously stout defense. He's no longer the rebounding or shot-blocking machine he was back in his prime years.

Also, once a player's career gets derailed by injuries it's rare he is ever able to bounce back to become suddenly durable again. With the NBA's condensed schedule forcing teams to play ridiculous amounts of basketball in a short period, there's a good chance Przybilla breaks down again.

Instead of taking a big shot in the dark on Przybilla, Pat Riley should just wait until after the trade deadline to see if any more attractive names become available. That's usually a time when several cap casualties are looking for new homes. A more reliable veteran might be willing to take a smaller deal at that point with hopes of winning a title.

It's not a guarantee that anybody worth Miami's time will become a free agent, but signing Przybilla isn't going to put the Heat over the top anyway. The team has survived this long without an extra big man, three more weeks shouldn't be an issue if it means an actual impact player might arrive.

Przybilla certainly doesn't fit into that category at this point of his career.