The Miami Heat played their second Summer League game last night. They ended up winning 94-87 against the Golden State Warriors.
Omer Yurtseven dropped 25 points, eight rebounds, and three blocks. Meanwhile, Max Strus scored 27 points and shot 5-11 from three-point range.
Despite both of these big-time performances, there was one player in particular who stole the show – Marcus Garrett. He followed up his six-steal performance in the first game with another great effort last night.
Garrett had a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds, tallying three assists to go along with it. On top of that, though, he also managed to get four steals.
This sort of performance is one that the Miami Heat will surely take note of. With the lack of depth they have at guard right now, Garrett should certainly be looked at to make the NBA roster.
Why Marcus Garrett deserves a spot on the Miami Heat: Lack of depth
Right now, the Heat have Kyle Lowry, Tyler Herro, and Duncan Robinson available at the guard. Robinson may even be considered more of a forward.
Past that, players like Strus and Gabe Vincent are on the roster, but there’s no clear-cut pecking order. Garrett definitely deserves a spot in that mix.
The Heat need to fill out their roster one way or another, and Pat Riley loves finding undrafted gems. The 22-year-old is exactly that.
His playstyle truly embodies what it means to be a part of the Miami Heat. He would be significantly cheaper than signing a free agent, and they need the depth anyways, so why not give him a chance.
Why Marcus Garrett deserves a spot on the Miami Heat: IQ
Though Marcus Garrett is a rookie, he is far more experienced than most first-year players. He spent all four years at Kansas, meaning he’ll be much more knowledgeable than a one-and-done college player.
This knowledge clearly translates to how he plays on the court. Whether he has the ball or not, Garrett is always making the smart play.
Last night’s game was the perfect example of this. He was constantly making plays to put the team in the best position possible to win.
As mentioned, Garrett grabbed 10 rebounds on the night, four of which were offensive. On all of those offensive boards, Garrett was in the right place and hustled in order to get his team an extra possession.
For a 6-5 guard, nabbing 10 rebounds is nothing to scoff at. It takes some serious basketball IQ and instincts to be able to do something like that, especially as a rookie.
In addition, Garrett plays well with the ball in his hands, too. He had three assists last night and two in the first game.
Even if it doesn’t always translate to actual assists, Garrett is always smart when he has the ball. He makes the right pass and rarely loses control.
The Miami Heat totaled 40 turnovers throughout both Summer League games. Garrett only turned the ball over once in each game.
Finding a rookie with the IQ that Garrett has is no easy feat. He would be a great addition to the depth chart for the Miami heat.
Why Marcus Garrett deserves a spot on the Miami Heat: Defense
Based on the box score, this reason is fairly obvious. Garrett has proven to be an absolute menace on the defensive side of the floor thus far.
Through two Summer League games, he has racked up 10 steals. He had six in the first game and added another four to his total last night.
Most of the steals aren’t just easy, passing lane picks, either. He’s getting up in the faces of his defenders and taking the ball right out of their hands.
Garrett is consistently picking up his man when the ball is inbounded and playing full-court defense. He doesn’t give his opponent any room to breathe, and Miami Heat fans should be absolutely loving it.
Fans have been raving about the fact that Pat Riley has put together a lineup of “dogs” this summer by adding the likes of Kyle Lowry, PJ Tucker, and Markieff Morris. Well, Garrett would be another one to add to that list.
The intensity with which he plays defense is something that Miami Heat fans will absolutely love. He already has piqued the interest of some fans on Twitter with his stellar Summer League performances.
Adding another defensive-minded guard to the rotation could further solidify the Heat as the best defensive team in the NBA. Garrett would surely bring some more fire to the court off the bench.
At only 22 years old, Garrett is super young and has already shown a ton of promise. He’s exactly the type of undrafted player the Miami Heat should give a contract to.