Miami ? By the time next season’s NBA playoffs arrive, nine years will have passed since Mike Miller last enjoyed a postseason victory.

He’s coming to Miami to change that.

Miller signed his long-awaited five-year contract with the Heat on Thursday, becoming the latest player to take less money than he could have made elsewhere to play for Miami. LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and Udonis Haslem all did the same in recent days, all with eyes on winning a championship. The contract is worth around $25 million. It was signed on the same day the Minnesota Timberwolves planned to introduce former Heat forward Michael Beasley to their fan base, which is more than coincidental. By trading Beasley for draft picks, that cleared the cap space Miami needed to sign Miller.

NBA

Jazz bring back Bell

Salt Lake City — The Utah Jazz are bringing back Raja Bell. Agent Herb Rudoy said Bell and the Jazz agreed to a three-year deal worth around $10 million. The 33-year-old guard just needs to pass a physical, which probably won’t happen until next week.

Nuggets sign Carter, Williams

Denver — Anthony Carter has signed a one-year league-minimum deal to stay with the Denver Nuggets, who also signed Shelden Williams.

Carter will make $1.352 million and Williams about $915,000 in 2010-11.

Warriors sold for $450 million

Oakland, Calif. — Golden State Warriors owner Chris Cohan reached an agreement Thursday to sell the franchise for a record $450 million to Boston Celtics minority partner Joe Lacob and Mandalay Entertainment CEO Peter Guber.

The bid from Lacob and Guber broke the record for the largest sale in league history, topping the $401 million Robert Sarver paid to buy the Phoenix Suns in 2004.

Wade says LeBron didn’t quit

Miami — Dwyane Wade is standing up for new Miami Heat teammate LeBron James, telling the Associated Press that the NBA’s two-time MVP “didn’t quit” on Cleveland during the playoffs.

Wade says that the criticism directed toward James bothers him because they’re friends and stings even more now that they’re teammates in Miami.

College administration

NCAA investigating UNC

Raleigh, N.C. — North Carolina athletic director Dick Baddour said Thursday the NCAA is investigating a sports program at the school regarding possible rules violations.

Baddour declined to say which sport, but a person familiar with the investigation told the Associated Press the NCAA is looking at Butch Davis’ football program.

Big Ten title game at Lambeau?

Green Bay, Wis. — The Green Bay Packers are interested in hosting a potential Big Ten conference championship game at Lambeau Field.

A team spokesman said the Packers have made preliminary contact with Big Ten officials to request information on hosting a new conference championship game, which will become possible after Nebraska leaves the Big 12 for the Big Ten in 2011.

Tour de France

Cavendish wins stage with help

Bourg-Les-Valence, France — In the frenzied and dangerous mass sprints at the Tour de France, competitors often need to keep their heads.

Mark Renshaw decided to use his.

The Australian lead-out man for sprint specialist Mark Cavendish was kicked out of the race after head-butting a rival Thursday, which cleared a path for his British teammate to win his third stage this year.

Andy Schleck of Luxembourg retained the yellow jersey and rode conservatively during the 114.6-mile ride from Sisteron to Bourg-les-Valence so that he could save his energy for tough climbs for the final week.

NFL

Vick trustee seeks repayment

Richmond, Va. — The trustee in Michael Vick’s bankruptcy case is seeking repayment of at least $2 million that the NFL quarterback doled out to friends and family in the months before he was sent to federal prison for running a dogfighting operation.

A complaint filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Newport News says Vick knew his lucrative career was in jeopardy and that he would be facing huge legal bills, yet he continued to shower friends and relatives with gifts and cash. Those assets, trustee Joseph J. Luzinski argues, should have gone to Vick’s creditors.