On Tuesday, ESPN’s scoop master, Adrian Wojnarowski, tweeted that the Miami Heat are planning to sign the Birmingham Squadron wing, Zylan Cheatham, to a 10-day contract as a part of the newly implemented NBA protocols.
With a few other attachments to the new legislation, it also requires that each NBA team sign a replacement player for each of its players who are under contract and tests positive for COVID-19.
The Miami Heat are planning to sign G-League G/F Zylan Cheatham to a 10-day contract, source tells ESPN. Cheatham has averaged 14 points and 10 rebounds for Birmingham.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 21, 2021
For instance, if two players test positive, NBA teams will be required to sign one replacement player. If three players test positive, teams will be required to sign two replacement players.
Teams will not be able to sign a replacement player with a two-way contract unless one of the team’s two-way players is converted to a standard NBA contract. Additionally, two-way players will now have no limit on the number of games they can appear in.
Before this month, two-way players were only allowed to play a maximum of 50 games.
With the signing of Zylan Cheatham, the Miami Heat are looking to strengthen their frontcourt after a series of injuries. More depth is always good.
After 50 games, each NBA team would have to decide whether or not they would want to sign the player to a season contract or send him back to the G-League.
Zylan Cheatham just got the callup to the Miami Heat, per @wojespn. Definitely fits their style of play and I think will have a chance to stick if he can show that his 3-ball is for real because he does everything else. https://t.co/D8u2WiAD8K
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) December 21, 2021
With the signing of Zylan Cheatham, the Miami Heat are looking to strengthen their frontcourt after a series of injuries. The Heat are without the services of Bam Adebayo (right thumb UCL reconstruction), Jimmy Butler (tail bone contusion), PJ Tucker (left lower leg nerve inflammation), Marcus Morris (whiplash), and Victor Oladipo (right knee injury recovery).
Meanwhile, Caleb Martin is out due to health and safety protocols. Cheatham, who played 15 games and started for the Birmingham Squadron this season, averaged a total of 10.5 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game while shooting 50 percent from the field and 21.7 percent behind the arc.
If the Miami Heat decide to sign Cheatham after the ten games, this will add some more much-needed size and length. Though he wasn’t available for Tuesday’s Pacers win, Cheatham was expected to sign his contract with the Heat on Wednesday.
The Heat have another long and lanky defender to work with. If Caleb Martin is any indication, then they should be able to get something out of Cheatham.