The Heat signed Jamaal Magloire, who was an All-Star in 2004 but has fallen from that level of play.

With a critical shortage of experienced big men on the roster, the Miami Heat needed a center.

Hoping to revive a once-promising career that has been on a four-year tumble into obscurity, journeyman Jamaal Magloire wanted another chance to turn things around.

Both the team and the player found a match Tuesday, when Magloire officially signed a one-year contract for close to the veteran's minimum of about $1.3 million.

Magloire, 30, arrived in Miami on Monday night and met with the media Tuesday after his first workout with the Heat.

''I definitely see potential for me to help this team,'' Magloire said. ``To what capacity remains to be seen. It remains to be seen the shape I come in, how training camp goes. I wouldn't have if I didn't see a need.''

Magloire, who is 6-11, is expected to compete for the starting job at center, where nine-year veteran Mark Blount (7-0) had been the only player under contract with more than two seasons of experience. Magloire views the Sept. 27 start of training camp as a chance to revive his career after seeing his production dwindle the past three seasons.

WELL-TRAVELED

He was an All-Star in 2003-04, when he averaged 13.6 points and 10.3 rebounds with New Orleans. But Magloire has since played for four teams in three years and is coming off his worst season after averaging 1.8 points and 2.9 rebounds in 31 games with New Jersey and Dallas.

A combination of nagging injuries and inconsistent play factored into the drastic drop in production.

But Magloire insists he has come to Miami recharged. If not, it's a relatively minor gamble for the Heat.

''Whatever role, whatever capacity that's needed here, I'm looking forward to that because I want to get back to the level I was playing at four years ago,'' Magloire said. ``The fact that I didn't play last year just makes me more vicious, more hungry to go out there and get the job done. It's just all motivation.''

The Heat settled on signing Magloire after considering several other free agents, including D.J. Mbenga, Lorenzen Wright and Theo Ratliff.

`THE RIGHT PLACE'

Magloire also has a unique connection to Heat president Pat Riley. Magloire played at the University of Kentucky and wore Riley's old number.

''We feel this is definitely the right place for him to re-energize his career,'' Riley said of Magloire. ``He is an excellent rebounder with a big body. On the defensive end, he will plug up the paint and on the offensive end, he can score.''

Magloire provides the Heat more flexibility along a frontline that complements guard Dwyane Wade and features Shawn Marion, Michael Beasley and Udonis Haslem.

Alonzo Mourning, who is recovering from knee surgery, is not under contract but hopes to return by mid-season.

QUINN MIGHT RETURN

Tuesday's signing also brings the Heat's roster to 14 players under contract, one shy of the league maximum for the regular season.

The Heat is close to re-signing restricted free agent point guard Chris Quinn, who was extended a $1 million qualifying offer this summer.

''Our training camp roster is set,'' Riley said Friday during an interview on 790 The Ticket.

``We've got a lot of great [perimeter players], a lot of versatility. We're as good as we can be at this stage.''