Israel Gutierrez of the Palm Beach Post reports: Given the simplicity of rookie contracts in the NBA, signing first-round pick Caron Butler was simply a matter of when the Heat and Butler wanted to get the deal done.

Because Butler will be playing in the Heat's summer-league team, the two sides agreed on the deal exactly one week after Butler was drafted.

The Heat signed Butler to a four-year contract Wednesday, beginning at the maximum available for the No. 10 pick, $1.67 million.

"I don't think it should be thought of as anything especially unique," Heat coach Pat Riley said. "That's the nature of No. 1 picks. A lot of teams don't sign them immediately. But they wanted to get it done, we wanted to get it done and we want to get him here and get him working on his game, on his body, finding a place in Miami to get settled in so he can begin to train. We don't want, nor should a player want, to sign, go off for the summer somewhere, do his own routine and show up some time in September."

Butler's deal is guaranteed for the first three years, with a team option for the fourth year. Should Miami pick up the option on Butler after four years, he would then become a restricted free agent before his fifth year.

Butler's signing means the Heat have six players under contract, the others being Alonzo Mourning, Eddie Jones, LaPhonso Ellis, Anthony Carter and Brian Grant.