[h1]Miami teammate says Miller will miss 8 weeks because of surgery
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MIAMI (AP) -- Some
Miami Heat players went back to work Thursday.
Mike Miller wasn't with them, thanks to yet another injury.
Such was an auspicious beginning for the reigning Eastern Conference champions.
Continuing a trend from last season, when he played in only half of Miami's 82 regular-season games, Miller will miss about eight weeks while recovering from hernia surgery. Miller told The Associated Press that he had the procedure earlier this week, adding that he isn't sure how the injury happened.
"It's unreal with my luck right now," Miller said. "When it rains it pours."
So a day that was supposed to be tinged with optimism - the return of some Heat players to the team facility for the first time since the NBA lockout began July 1 - came with a cloud of uncertainly. Miller missed the start of last season, his first with the Heat, after breaking his right thumb by getting tangled in
LeBron James' jersey during a preseason practice. He had shoulder problems during the year and needed offseason surgery on his left thumb.
Now comes this, amid widespread speculation that the Heat may consider using the new amnesty provision in the still-not-completed new collective bargaining agreement to jettison Miller and the approximate $4.35 million - that's pro-rated for a 66-game schedule, the original total was $5.4 million - he would have made this season. He's owed $18.2 million for the three seasons that follow this one as well.
"I know Mike. He's a strong guy, he's going to stay positive and he's going to get back as soon as he can," said Heat forward
Udonis Haslem, who went to the University of Florida with Miller and considers him one of his very closest friends. "The key with Mike is, we've got to fight him not to get back too fast. He's going to want to be out there. He's going to want to play. He's got to just pace himself and get healthy."
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