The Miami Heat have been having an amazing offseason. They have made a ton of great signings, they kept the right guys and regardless of how CJ McCollum feels about how they handled it, and they grabbed a lot of developmental talent, to boot.
With that though, things were chugging along in Miami Heat land, everything was all bubblegum and butterflies… and then this happening on Saturday. One of the worst possible things that could have happened… happened.
Well, it isn’t terrible, but it isn’t great either. Here’s the news.
Heat summer league standout DeJon Jarreau reportedly signing a two-way deal with the Pacers. Undrafted Kansas guard Marcus Garrett still available for Heat to sign to two-way contract. https://t.co/hFyWvC3MOL
— Anthony Chiang (@Anthony_Chiang) August 22, 2021
DeJon Jarreau was a surefire two-way guy, from our perspective, if he had stayed with the Miami Heat. Rather than let the process play out with the Miami Heat, their process, he chose to trust himself and take a guaranteed-type deal that was out there already.
The Miami Heat find themselves out back, when it comes to DeJon Jarreau. They can’t allow that to happen with Marcus Garrett.
Though the Miami Heat would have, likely, offered him a two-way deal based on his play, they hadn’t yet and he had one on the table. That’s the simple science to that transaction.
It still isn’t great though, as he was one of the best guys the Miami Heat landed following the draft. While that situation is a tough one in itself, it really makes you consider the Heat’s scenario, as a whole.
Most importantly and specifically, it really makes you think about Marcus Garrett. Seeing that these guys will want to take the solid opportunity when it’s offered, they need to get it done with him.
They can’t take this chance with Garrett, that they have become of victim of with Jarreau. While that might free up room to keep another guy, you would have liked to keep Jarreau above anyone not named Marcus Garrett, you’d imagine.
That isn’t an option any more for Miami though, as he’s now with the Indiana Pacers. For what it’s worth, it makes sense, as Jarreau is very Malcom Brogdon-ish.
Similar games, similar skillsets, and similar physical profiles. That’s probably the thought process with that one for them.
For the Miami Heat though, this must force them to move. They must sign Marcus Garrett to a two-way deal… or more and ASAP, as this is what can happen if they continue to wait.