The Miami Heat have signed shooting guard Josh Christopher to a two-way contract, the team announced in a press release.
Christopher, 22, is 6-foot-5 and was a standout for Las Vegas Summer League champion Heat, being named summer title game MVP. So many felt he was on his way to getting some sort of deal from somebody somewhere. That somebody is the Heat.
In a related move, the Heat waived undrafted rookie Zyon Pullin from a two-way deal. Along with Christoper, the Heat have Dru Smith and Keshad Johnson on two-ways, for the NBA limit of three.
Christopher spent his first two seasons with the Houston Rockets before being traded to the Memphis Grizzlies. He was eventually waived by the Grizzlies, before latching on with the Utah Jazz, who released him in January.
But again, his summer run showed there is likely a spot for him in the league.
“The 24th pick in the 2021 draft came through in the clutch repeatedly during this July showcase. There was the 20-point, fourth-quarter explosion vs the Oklahoma City Thunder, the clutch and-1 against the Golden State Warriors to send them to the Summer League Championship, and then his 24-point (six three-pointers) performance that included a step-back three-pointer from the logo,” wrote Will Salinas of Fansided.
Christopher carries NBA career averages of 6.9 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists, shooting 45.5% from the field and 27.7% on 3-pointers, in 138 games. He did not appear in a game last season.
Also, in case you missed it, the Heat recently signed forward Haywood Highsmith to a two-year contract (not to be confused with two-way).
Undrafted out of Division II Wheeling University in 2018, Highsmith found a spot with the Philadelphia 76ers, appearing in five games as a rookie. He then spent two years overseas before latching on with the Heat.
This past season, he appeared in a career-high 66 games and averaged a career-best 6.1 points and 3.2 rebounds, shooting 46.5% from the field and 39.6% on 3-pointers.
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