A strong Summer League performance has made DeJon Jarreau a leading candidate to grab one of the Heat‘s open two-way slots, writes Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald. A thigh contusion forced Jarreau to miss the two games in Sacramento, but he was among the team’s best players in Las Vegas, averaging 11.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and 5.8 assists.
The 23-year-old guard played for Miami this summer after going undrafted out of Houston and finds himself in an open competition for a two-way deal. Both of last season’s two-way players, Max Strus and Gabe Vincent, have received standard contracts.
“With DeJon, it’s just his makeup,” said Summer League coach Malik Allen. “He finds a way to put his imprint on the game … He has the vision and it’s just a matter of trying to harness the things that we see so he can keep growing and getting better as an NBA point guard.”
There’s more on the Heat:
- KZ Okpala went from the playoffs to the Olympics to the Summer League, and now he’s focused on trying to expand his role in his third NBA season, Chiang notes in a separate story. However, Okpala’s path to more minutes appears blocked after Miami added P.J. Tucker and Markieff Morris in free agency. Okpala is heading into the final season of a three-year, $4.2MM contract.
- The Heat see potential in D.J. Stewart, who signed an Exhibit 10 contract on Tuesday, Chiang adds. The undrafted guard out of Mississippi State is likely to end up with the team’s G League affiliate in Sioux Falls. “There is something there. He’s long. He’s got good athleticism. He’s competitive,” Allen said. “And offensively he’s got a little ways to go, but just continuing to develop. … He’s just one of those great intangible guys that has a lot of potential to keep growing in that type of role.”
- Omer Yurtseven‘s impressive Summer League showing may give him a chance to become Miami’s backup center, per Ira Winderman of The Sun-Sentinel. That job currently belongs to veteran Dewayne Dedmon, but Winderman expects Yurtseven to see spot duty early in the season to determine which frontcourt combinations are most effective.
Jarreau will have no problem winning one of their two-way slots. Miami would be smart to promote him to the 15-man roster sometime before the end of next season so another team doesn’t steal him away.
You’re in Houstom, so you got a chance to see him. As I’ve said, he instantly stood out to me when I was checking out the summer league roster before summer league started. How do you feel about just how he seems to have a really high basketball IQ and just do so many right things? Also, is he too unselfish?
Squeezed for slots yet he signs Haslem instead of making him a Coach. No backup in place for a 35 year old point guard who was injured last year.
Omer looked good in SL. Definitely an NBA big. Heat always find guys undrafted. Or guys who develop late.
I like Stewart better
When draft night was over, and all of the Heat summer league guys were announced, Marcus Garrett and Dejon Jarreau jumped out as the 2 obvious 2 way guys/back end of the roster possibilities, but there were several guys that seemed like potential training camp invites, and so far, the top guys on my list seem like they’re going to do just those things. Really interested to see how the Heat develops those guys b/c I feel like they’re in the perfect place for them
As I said in the article about DJ Stewart, he reminds me of Derrick Jones jr in some ways, but less athletic obviously. He defends, attacks, can make plays off the dribble, but his jumpshot isnt clean. Needs to get that off quicker, and smoother, but definitely 1 of the guys I identified early. Definitely had his spot solidified easier when Lawson left. I would expect the last 4 training camp spots to go to Garrett, Dejon Jarreau, Tyson Carter, and 1 of Javonte Smart or RJ Nembhard.
And maybe find a way to get Dru Smith and Potter to Sioux Falls. Those are both guys they generally like to have there
Not necessarily Heat related, but I would like to see Davon Reed get an opportunity with someone that needs a 2/3. I really think he can help there for a lot of teams that could use a 3 and D guy, and he is capable of rotation minutes now, in my opinion
Yurtseven will definitely be part of the rotation as the floor spacing big they need. I would have preferred Okpala over Markieff Morris, of they weren’t going to bring in someone like Millsap for that spot. Hopefully he still gets minutes. I would expect Strus to see a good amount of opportunity on the wing next to their defenders b/c they’re going to need his shooting, especially as they try to incorporate Yurtseven