Heat sign former Harlem Globetrotter

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Heat sign center Ernest Brown
MIAMI (AP) -- The Miami Heat signed 7-foot center Ernest Brown on Monday to serve as a backup for Alonzo Mourning.
The Heat drafted Brown in the second round of the 2000 NBA draft, but waived him before last season. He played with the Kansas City Knights of the ABA and the Harlem Globetrotters.

In six games with the Knights, Brown averaged 4.3 points and 2.7 rebounds.

Brown left Indian Hills Junior College in Iowa after one season. Brown averaged 12 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.5 blocks while shooting nearly 61 percent from the floor and helping his team to a 28-5 record.

The Heat also drafted 6-foot-11 center Ken Johnson from Ohio State in June. Johnson and Brown likely will compete for a backup role to Mourning, who missed 69 games because of kidney disease last season and played limited minutes after his return.