Bucks' Samuel Dalembert interested in joining the Heat next year

Currently facing the Miami Heat in the playoffs, Samuel Dalembert wants to play for them next year (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Big man Samuel Dalembert said Sunday before the Bucks 110-87 loss to the Heat that he would be interested in playing for his current opponent next year. Dalembert didn't play in the final eight games of the season or in Sunday's Game 1 playoff loss.

He had discussions about joining the Heat last season, and he expects that will be an option again this year. From Fox Sports Florida:

“The Heat will be definitely an option,’’ Dalembert told FOX Sports Florida before his Bucks lost to the Heat 110-87 in Game 1 of an Eastern Conference first-round series Sunday night. “It’s up to them and seeing what’s going to be out there. But at this point you want to be with a contending team. You don’t want to go backwards, so you want to chase that promised land.’’

The real question is whether the Heat would want Dalembert, who has been facing diminishing minutes with little impact on the team. It's been a frustrating season for Dalembert, who was suspended from a game in February for a "violation of team policy," and played only 13 of Milwaukee's final 27 games. From Fox Sports Florida:

“It’s been a very interesting season,’’ Dalembert said. “Things change. Suddenly, there is no explanation (about his minutes cut). It’s basically a business. So that was my first year of DNP (did not play due to coach’s decision) in my career and not only one or two. I don’t know how many. I lost track."