Miami Heat releases Shaun Livingston

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The Miami Heat told ex-Clipper Shaun Livingston he was going to be released after the Heat’s loss Monday night to San Antonio.

Livington played only four games for the Heat this season and was struggling to make a comeback after the horrible injury he suffered when he was with the Clippers. In a February 2007 game, Livingston landed awkwardly on a layup at Staples Center and suffered a dislocated left kneecap and tore three ligaments. He never played in another game for the Clippers.

Last summer the Clippers did not re-sign the No. 4 pick in the 2004 NBA Draft, and he signed with the Heat for a base salary of about $855,000, but only $370,000 of it was guaranteed. This week is the NBA deadline for all player contracts to be guaranteed for the rest of the season, and the Heat dumped Livingston in part to limit its NBA luxury tax.

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported that Livingston ‘appeared stiff-legged in his appearances with reduced mobility.’ This season Livingston averaged only 2.3 points and one assist per game with the Heat.

Before his injury, the 6-foot-7 Livingston was considered the Clippers’ point guard of the future and Coach Mike Dunleavy spoke glowingly of his athletic skills, although Clipper fans grumbled they were mostly evident in practices, not in game action.

Nevertheless, at 23, Livingston finds his future in the NBA is now cloudy at best.

-- Barry Stavro