After creating the kind of defensive havoc during the NBA’s Summer League that he did for four years at Kansas, former KU guard Marcus Garrett received his first reward this week.
According to a tweet from NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski, Garrett has signed a two-way contract with the Miami Heat.
Wojnarowski got the info from Garrett’s new agent, Mike George of One Legacy Sports, which also represents NBA star Jamal Murray along with former Big 12 players Naz Mitrou-Long and Tariq Owens.
After going undrafted in July, Garrett quickly signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Miami Heat. The contract, which guaranteed very little, simply gave Garrett an opportunity. He did the rest.
From the opening game of the NBA’s Summer League on, Garrett showcased the kind of defense he became known for during his days as a Jayhawk.
He hounded ball handlers and picked their pockets clean. He also played the passing lanes and picked up easy baskets off of his defensive anticipation.
That led to pretty good offensive numbers, as well.
Garrett appeared in four Summer League games with the Heat, averaging 11 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.3 steals and 1.5 assists per game.
He also carried a +9.3 plus/minus number and shot 65.4% (17-of-26) from the floor and 43% (3-of-7) from 3-point range while helping the Heat record a 4-0 record.
The former Naismith Award national defensive player of the year scored in double figures in each of the four games and recorded 10 steals in two contests at the California Classic in Sacramento.
The two-way contract keeps Garrett’s rights with Miami and the Heat G League franchise in Sioux Falls, S.D., for the 2021-22 season.
He’ll be able to freely jump up and down between the two levels as the front office and coaching staff see fit, and he will not count against Miami’s 15-man roster limit.
In the games he plays with the Heat, Garrett will make NBA money and in the games he plays with the Sioux Falls Skyforce, he’ll make G League money.
That typically amounts to a salary of roughly $125,000 per year for standard players on two-way contracts.
Garrett’s goal now, of course, will be to make an NBA roster full-time. But, for an undrafted player, the opportunity to show what you can do on a two-way contract in Year 1 is about as good as you can ask for.
Kansas guard Marcus Garrett is signing a two-way deal with the Miami Heat, his agent Mike George of @onelegacysports tells ESPN. Garrett honored his college rep as a tenacious defender in summer league.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 2, 2021
