Out since January with a knee injury, it sounds like Kyle Alexander may finally be healthy. Will he suit up for the Miami Heat in Orlando?
After months of silence, Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra offered an update on two-way forward Kyle Alexander when speaking to reporters on Sunday afternoon.
Erik Spoelstra, on Kyle Alexander (knee), "He's going full go. . . . So we're really encouraged where he is right now."
— Ira Winderman (@IraHeatBeat) July 12, 2020
The 23-year old forward suffered a PCL sprain and hyperextended right knee back in January when on the floor for the Sioux Falls Skyforce, Miami’s G-League affiliate.
Alexander spent four seasons with the Tennessee Volunteers before going undrafted in 2019. He signed an Exhibit-10 deal back shortly after and was inked to a two-way deal back in January.
As a member of the Volunteers, Alexander underwhelmed on offense but made right of it on the defensive end. He posted no less than one block per game in each of his four years.
With the Skyforce, Alexander was averaging 10.6 points, nine rebounds, and two blocks nightly. It’s clear that Pat Riley and company saw something in the youth given their signing him to a deal that makes him eligible to suit up for the Heat in some capacity.
They’ve made the most of their G-League affiliate in recent year, earning a number of contributors from the developmental league like Duncan Robinson and Derrick Jones Jr.
Given Spoelstra’s mentioning of the forward, one can’t help but wonder if Alexander might see some playing time in the remaining eight games of the regular season. Even if only to give some of the more experienced guys a breather, it might be worth giving him a look ahead of the playoffs.
We know coach Erik Spoelstra is looking to extend his rotation, even if just for the remainder of the regular season. With news that Kyle Alexander is finally healthy, keep an eye out for number 17.