Former Tennessee forward Kyle Alexander has signed a two-way contract with the Miami Heat, the team announced on Wednesday afternoon.
Alexander originally signed a G League contract with the Heat on July 15th after playing with the organization’s summer league team. Following his summer league stint, Alexander was part of the Heat’s training camp/preseason roster, but he was waived two days before the start of the regular season.
Two-way contracts are meant for players a team would like to keep without having to sign to a full-time contract. Each NBA team can have up to two two-way contract players per season. Excluding time spent before and after the G League’s season begins and ends, players on two-way contracts can spend up to 45 days in the NBA while spending the rest of the season in the G League.
In 23 games with Miami’s G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, Alexander averaged 10.6 rebounds, 9.1 rebounds, and 2.17 blocks in 21 starts. Alexander has been averaging 25.1 minutes and has shot 69.2 percent from the field. He leads the Skyforce in rebounds (209), offensive rebounds (73), blocks (50), and double-doubles (7).
A spot opened up for the Heat to sign Alexander to a two-way deal after the team signed fellow rookie, and former South Carolina Gamecock, Chris Silva to a standard three-year contract. Wednesday was the final day for NBA teams to sign players to two-way contracts this season.
According to the Miami Herald, Alexander now has 24 days to spend in the NBA through the end of the G League season and the rest of the time must be spent with the team’s development affiliate. Alexander’s new two-way contract prevents Alexander from being signed by another NBA team.
“You don’t see guys like that with that length, activity,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said of Alexander. “This was the long game. We want to be able to develop him for several months and another summer program to see how much better he can get. So we’re excited about having him in the fold, too.
Alexander ranks second in Tennessee’s career blocked shots list (185) and fifth in offensive rebounds (287). His 64 blocks during his senior season were the second-most in a single season by a Vol, while his 96 offensive rebounds ranked sixth all-time.
The native of Canada finished his college career averaging 4.6 points per game, 4.9 rebounds and shot 58.5 percent from the field. Alexander finished his senior season at UT averaging 7.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game.
