Fierce battle developing for Heat's two-way slots

The summer competition for two-way NBA deals can be intense. Especially when that deal is with the Miami Heat.

The Heat’s undefeated Summer League team is stuffed with NBA and almost-NBA talent. Miami’s last two first-round picks, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Kel’el Ware, are dominating. Jaquez had 23 points on 13 shots in Miami’s 102-73 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder Monday, while Ware grabbed 12 rebounds to go with his 11 points.

But those two are assured of significant roles on next year’s Heat. That’s not the case for a number of other Miami Summer Leaguers, who are all effectively competing for the team’s three two-way contracts.

The Heat have payroll restrictions such that they’ll likely start the season with only 14 of a possible 15 roster spots filled. In the past, the Heat have often filled those spots by adding a player during the season, a pattern of success general manager Andy Elisburg acknowledged to the Miami Herald.

“I think we’ve had a lot of success as a franchise over the years of being able to fill that 15th player during the season,” Elisburg said. “That’s how Max Strus got to the roster, that’s how Caleb Martin got on the roster, that’s how Duncan Robinson got on the roster, Kendrick Nunn got on the roster because we had open roster spots.”

One thing those players have in common, besides their success with the Heat, is that they all cashed in. Strus got a $62M deal from the Cavaliers, Martin signed for $32M with the 76ers (after turning down a five-year, $65M deal with the Heat) and Robinson got $90M from the Heat. Miami legitimately gives its two-way guys a chance.

There are a lot of candidates on their summer roster who look hungry for that chance. Current two-way player Keshad Johnson has likely secured his spot with relentless defense in Las Vegas.

Point guard Isaiah Stevens had 18 assists against only two turnovers in Miami’s two wins. An undrafted free agent this year, Stevens is threatening to steal the two-way deal of Dru Smith, who is still recovering from an ACL tear suffered last summer.

Former first-round pick Josh Christopher is also in the mix after a 23-point effort Monday where he was a perfect 3-of-3 from three-point range and added three steals. 20 of his points came in a spectacular fourth quarter.

There’s also Zyon Pullin and last year’s two-way players. One of them, Cole Swider, was shooting 62 percent from deep this summer before Monday’s 1-of-6 effort. The other, Alondes Williams, seems destined to move on after sitting out the first two games.

It should continue to be a fiery competition between the potential two-way guys. When it’s a two-way deal with the Heat at stake, it could be a career-changing opportunity.