The Heat have signed forward Yante Maten to a two-way contract, the team announced in a press release on Sunday.
Maten appeared in seven games for the Heat’s Summer League teams in Sacramento and Las Vegas, averaging 10.7 PPG and 5.6 APG while shooting 44.6% from the field.
The 2018 SEC Player of the Year spent four seasons at the University of Georgia, appearing in all 128 collegiate contests. Chet Kammerer, the Heat’s vice president of player personnel was impressed with Maten’s ability.
“We saw him play in the SEC and he was player of the year [as a senior],” Kammerer said.“He’s been a solid player over his career at Georgia and had some individual highs over the course of his career. He started kind of slow but he’s really a solid basketball player. Versatile. He’s got a bright future ahead of him.”
After his strong showing in Summer League, Maten’s agent Austin Walton of NEXT Sports said his client received Exhibit 10 offers from “half the league.” Walton’s hope was to secure a two-way contract for Maten, which he did.
The Heat have 12 players on standard NBA contracts, with roster spots set aside for Dwyane Wade and Udonis Haslem if they decide to continue their careers. Duncan Robinson holds the other one of the team’s two-way deals.