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Key Dates and Transactions: 1988

Jun 15 2004 12:02PM
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January 19   The HEAT announces plans to televise games on SportsChannel Florida and WBFS-TV (Channel 33).
March 2 The flaming basketball is adopted as Miami's official logo from more than 1,000 entries. Mark Henderson submitted the winning entry.
March 8 The HEAT hires veteran NBA trainer Ron Culp to be its first Trainer/Travel Coordinator.
May 13 The HEAT and WQAM Radio (560 AM) reach an agreement to broadcast HEAT contests.
June 23 Miami and the Charlotte Hornets select players from the other NBA teams in the 1988 Expansion Draft. The HEAT selects first and picks Arvid Kramer from the Dallas Mavericks. Miami receives Dallas' 1988 first-round draft choice (Kevin Edwards) for not picking centers Bill Wennington and Uwe Blab or guard Steve Alford. Receives its choice of the Lakers second-round pick in either 1991 or 1992 in exchange for not selecting center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Miami opted to take the Lakers' 1992 second-round draft choice (Matt Geiger). Receives a second-round draft choice from Boston in 1988 (Sylvester Gray) for not selecting guard Dennis Johnson. Receives Seattle's 1988 second-round draft choice (Orlando Graham) for not selecting guard Danny Young. Forward Fred Roberts is traded to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for a 1989 second-round draft choice (Scott Haffner). Guard Darnell Valentine is traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers, in exchange for the Cavs second-round pick in either 1990 or 1992.
June 28 The HEAT participates in its first NBA Draft. Selecting ninth, Miami picks 6-111/2 center Rony Seikaly from Syracuse University. The team also chooses guard Kevin Edwards from DePaul in the first round (20th overall) with the pick received from Dallas.
July 1 Did not retain right-of-first-refusal on forward John Stroeder.
July 11 Ron Rothstein, an assistant from the Detroit Pistons, is chosen to be the HEAT's first head coach.
July 26 Sam Smith is hired as the HEAT's play-by-play voice on Miami's radio and television simulcasts.
July 27 Veteran NBA coach Dave Wohl, who had been serving as a scout for the team, and Tony Fiorentino, an assistant coach at Iona College, are hired by Rothstein as assistant coaches.
July 28 Signed first-round pick Kevin Edwards.
August 1 Did not exercise the option on guard Kevin Williams.
August 29 Miami signs its first veteran free agent, forward/center Pat Cummings.
August 31 Signed second-round pick Grant Long.
September 6 Eric Reid is hired as the HEAT's color analyst on Miami's radio and television simulcasts.
September 7 Signed first-round pick Rony Seikaly.
September 30 Signed third-round pick Nate Johnston and center John Shasky, forward Tony Karasek and guards Charles Bradley, Tony Fairly and Darryl Joe.
October 4 Signed second-round pick Sylvester Gray.
October 5 The HEAT and WAQI Radio (710 AM) announce an agreement to broadcast Miami HEAT games in Spanish, joining the San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Lakers as the only NBA teams to have bilingual broadcasts. Sarvelio Del Valle and Carlos Fournier call the action for Miami in the first season.
October 8 The HEAT opens its inaugural training camp on the campus of the University of Miami.
October 12 Waived forward Tony Karasek.
October 14 Miami plays its first NBA exhibition game before 4,000 fans at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida. The HEAT is defeated by the Seattle SuperSonics, 116-107.
October 18 Signed guard Jamie Waller. Waived guard Tony Fairly and forward Conner Henry.
October 24 Waived guard Charles Bradley and forward Nate Johnston.
November 3 Signed guard Rory Sparrow. Waived guards Andre Turner and Darryl Joe. Relinquished draft rights to forward Orlando Graham. Placed center Hansi Gnad on the injured list.
November 5 Miami begins regular season play in the NBA hosting the Los Angeles Clippers at Miami Arena before a sellout crowd of 15,008. The Clippers win the game, 101-80. Signed guard Anthony Taylor. Waived guard Jamie Waller.
November 7 Placed center Hansi Gnad on the reserve/suspended list.
December 2 Placed guard Dwayne Washington on the injured list with a pulled right groin.
December 4 Signed guard Clinton Wheeler.
December 14 The HEAT wins its first game in franchise history, defeating the Los Angeles Clippers, 89-88, at the Los Angeles Sports Arena.
December 23 Activated guard Dwayne Washington from the injured list. Waived guard Clinton Wheeler.
December 26 Waived guard Anthony Taylor.
December 31 Signed forward Todd Mitchell to a 10-day contract. Placed forward Sylvester Gray on the injured list with a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb.