Rafer Alston 'Skips' Out On Team, Heat Suspend Guard For Rest of Season

Veteran guard Rafer 'Skip To My Lou' Alston has been suspended for the remainder of the season by the Miami Heat after a week long absence from the team, in which he failed to explain his actions.

Alston, 33, was signed in early January, in hopes of adding a veteran presence with playoff experience to aid the team in their playoff push. But in 25 games with the Heat, Alston averages just 6.6 points on 35.5% shooting.

After making headlines before the season by requesting a trade out of New Jersey, hoping to see more playing time in a contract year, Alston was finally bought out by New Jersey early in January.

Alston first reportedly missed practice last Friday, March 5th. Since then he has not appeared at any practices or games, and the Heat have been unsuccessful in attempts to contact the guard regarding the situation. While Alston contacted the team through text message last week, he has since been unreachable.

Alston told ESPN that his absence was related to a personal matter involving his sister, but Alston did not notify any Heat officials, and has made no attempt to notify them.

This is just another chapter in Alston's book, and a saddening one at that, as directly following Alston's signing with the team, it seemed to be a happy homecoming for the guard and a good fit for the team as well.

Coupled with Dorrell Wright's suspension for a DUI arrest, the Heat will play the next few games shorthanded. Look for Mario Chalmers, James Jones and Carlos Arroyo to receive increased time, and perhaps even sparsely-used Yakhouba Diawara to see the court a bit to eat some minutes. 

Barring any sort of miracle mending of the relationship between Alston and the Heat, this should successfully end Alston's short reunion with the franchise.

Though, on a positive note, the heat are an impressive 4-1 since Alston left the team, thanks, in part to back-to-back strong games by Chalmers.