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Miami Heat: Come 2018-19 it’s Yante Maten’s time to shine

By Dario Ramos

ATHENS, GA - FEBRUARY 17: Yante Maten #1 gives a high five to his teammate Juwan Parker #3 of the Georgia Bulldogs during the Bulldogs' basketball game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Stegeman Coliseum on February 17, 2018 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Comer/Getty Images)
ATHENS, GA - FEBRUARY 17: Yante Maten #1 gives a high five to his teammate Juwan Parker #3 of the Georgia Bulldogs during the Bulldogs' basketball game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Stegeman Coliseum on February 17, 2018 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Comer/Getty Images) /
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The Miami Heat have utilized their second two-way contract.

There’s a new member of Heat Nation, and his name is Yante Maten.

On Sunday, the Miami Heat announced that they have signed the former Georgia bulldog to a two-way contract.

https://twitter.com/MiamiHEAT/status/1023644637746135040?s=19

Appearing in seven Summer League games for the Heat (with one start), the 6-8 forward averaged 10.7 points and 5.6 rebounds per game, while shooting 44.6 percent from the field, 38.5 percent from downtown and 76.9 percent from the charity stripe.

Maten reached double-digits in the scoring column five times during Summer League play, with his best performance coming in a game against the New Orleans Pelicans, where he came off the bench and scored 19 points on 8-for-14 shooting, grabbed seven rebounds and blocked two shots.

Clearly, that got the attention of Miami’s front office.

Maten, who was named the 2018 Southeastern Conference player of the year, averaged 19.3 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game as a senior at Georgia and certainly left his mark all over the school’s all-time records list.

He finished his career at Georgia ranking second all-time in points (1,886), third in blocks (198), fourth in rebounds (889) and in free throws made (518), sixth in field goals made (655), 13th in free throw percentage (.755), and 15th in field goal percentage (.483).

Oh, and his 636 points were the most ever in a single season by a Georgia senior.

Impressed yet?

Maten joins Michigan’s Duncan Robinson as players on two-way deals for the Miami Heat.

Two-way players are allowed a maximum of 45 days in the NBA, with the remainder of the season to be spent in the G-League. However, keep in mind that two-way contracts can be converted into standard deals at any time.

The Heat originally said they wanted to hold on to their second two-way contract to let guys compete for it in training camp, but changed their minds and inked Maten probably in fear he would sign with another team.

It makes sense too, considering that Maten has shown promise at both Georgia and in Miami’s 2018 Summer League run. He’s definitely got the size, skill, and mentality to succeed in the NBA; additionally, being ultra versatile, he has the ability to play both forward positions, something head coach Erik Spoelstra will love to work with.

Lately, positionless basketball has become all the rage in the league, but no one appreciates it more than Spoelstra and his coaching staff.

It will be interesting to see whether or not Maten proves to be yet another young talented player both found and further developed by the Heat.

Next. Miami Heat 1-on-1: What does the future hold for Justise Winslow?. dark

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