The latest free agent trying to join the Miami Heat bandwagon and win a ring? Penny Hardaway.

Yes, the same Hardaway who entered the League in 1993, teamed with Shaquille O'Neal and led the Orlando Magic to the 1995 NBA Finals, became riddled with injuries after O'Neal left the team in 1996 and was never the same player thereafter. He last played on the Heat's atrocious 2007-08 team and started eight of his 16 games before he was released to make room for Luke Jackson.

Hardaway, 39, told ESPN that he can fit well into the Heat system based on Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh. To his credit, the former two-time All-NBA First Team player said that he envisions himself  having a very minimal role on the court and making his presence felt in the locker-room and on the team plane. Juwan Howard is reportedly on the verge of signing with the Miami Heat and he is 37 years old. If signed, Hardaway would join Howard and as the veteran leaders in the timeout huddles.

The four-time NBA All-Star actually had his moments with Miami; he even scored 16 points on six-of-six shooting from the field in one game. The one reservation I have about Hardaway being on this team is whether he will be able to step up if injuries forced him to enter the game. The two most legitimate reasons why this Heat team might not dominate the NBA for the next six years are the alpha-dog syndrome -- which is highly unlikely -- and injuries. Wade has been healthy for the past two seasons, but he has also missed 31 games twice -- in 2006-07 and 07-08. If Wade goes down, I'm not comfortable giving substantial minutes to a 39-year-old who hasn't played in an NBA game since 2007.

Howard's case is a bit different. He proved just last season with the Portland Trail Blazers that he can step up if injuries occur. Howard shot 51 percent from the field last season with Portland and grabbed almost five rebounds per game. Moreover, while Greg Oden and Joel Przybilla were injured in one game, Howard logged 33 minutes and registered 16 points on 8-of-15 shooting from the field and grabbed seven rebounds. If Bosh or Udonis Haslem were to sustain an injury, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra should feel comfortable with Howard.

That is why I'd feel far more comfortable with a guy like Jerry Stackhouse being the 10th man on the roster. He contributed on a Milwaukee Bucks team that made the playoffs and could provide some outside shooting. Matt Barnes could come and in that case, Riley might not even sign a veteran point guard and simply start James, Wade and Miller to give Barnes ample minutes. I'd even feel more comfortable if Heat President Pat Riley completed his roster with projects like Da'Sean Butler and Jon Scheyer. Although Scheyer suffered a lacerated eyelid in a summer league game and will miss the remainder of the schedule, a team can hold as many as 20 players during training camp.

With Butler and Scheyer, at least Miami's coaching staff could develop them; Hardaway will be a one-and-done deal. I know Riley has not had any recent success with his draft picks, but some of his diamond-in-the-rough types have come to fruition. Bruce Bowen, Udonis Haslem and Joel Anthony all received their NBA starts with calls from Riley. Besides, James, Wade and Bosh will improve any of the Heat's youngsters.

This summer is not 2007, when the last impression free agents had of the Heat was an injured Wade and a collection of flamed-out veterans. Hardaway signed with Miami that off-season; now however, several better options are ready to play with the Heat. As far as Riley and Heat owner Micky Arison are concerned, Hardaway isn't worth a penny.

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