Locking up prospects
New two-way contracts will alter the Heat’s draft strategy.
MIAMI — They are the ones that got away, the prospects the Miami Heat cultivated during minicamps, summer leagues, training camps, only to have the salary cap, luxury tax or roster limit get in theway.
That is about to change, in a manner that could impact how teams approach Thursday’s NBA draft at Barclays Center, particularly in the second round.
For the first time since the NBA started its development league, there now will be a means of locking in a prospect without impacting the salary cap, luxury tax or 15-player NBA roster limit, with the advent of the two-way contract.
“We’ve had players like that in the past,” said Chet Kammerer, the Heat’s vice president of player personnel, “and it’s always a competition to keep them.”
Among those who have gotten away from Heat summerleague teams and training camps in recent years have been Ian Clark, Patrick Beverley, Anthony Morrow, Anthony Tolliver and Briante Weber.
Now, under the collectivebargaining agreement that goes
into effect July1, NBA teams can step forward to a pair of prospects and offer them contracts that would pay $75,000 if they spend the season with the team’s developmental-affiliate and upwards of $300,000 if there also is time with the NBA roster.
There are limitations. The contracts are only available to players with three or fewer seasons of NBA experience, with the designated players allowed to spend no more than 45 days with their parent teams before such deals must be converted to standard contracts. But now the development can be ongoing, instead of losing a player such as Weber this past season first to the Golden State Warriors and now the Charlotte Hornets.
And that is what makes the draft — and the predraft workout process — such an integral part of the two-way process. In 2013, for example, the Heat acquired the rights to Long Beach State forward James Ennis in the second round but were unable to create a roster spot. Rather than moveon to the Heat’s developmental league team for what remain meager wages (a maximum of $26,000 per
“It’s become even more valuable that you know players and you have them properly evaluated.”
Chet Kammerer, Heats vice president of player personnel season), Ennis cited his family’s financial plight and played in Australia, never quite gaining a Heat foothold before reemerging this past season with the Memphis Grizzlies.
Now, should the Heat trade or buy their way into Thursday’s second round, there is the option of developing such a prospect, while also keeping opposing teams at bay.
“That strategy and approach is still being discussed,” said Adam Simon, the Heat’s assistant general manager. “I think every team is going to have a different way of using that and looking at it. So you can dangle it draft night and try to get players to sign for that option, if they don’t get drafted. You could potentially use it for a secondround pick and offer that option to them.”
Or such spots could be dangled to summer-league prospects, the types who have gotten away from the Heat over the years.
“Do you wait until after summer league? Do you offer it to more of a veteran player that had been in the D-League or a player coming back from Europe?” Simon said. “So there’s lot of different ways it can be used, and we’ll find out. Every team will use it differently.”
For the Heat, the added benefit is that by having a pair of can’t-be-poached prospects in their developmental program it makes it easier to justify a limited minutes veteran on the NBA 15-player roster, such as impending free agent Udonis Haslem.
Kammerer said two-way contracts also increase the significance of pre-draft scouting, to get a read on any and every developmental option.
“Right after the draft, we have our list of players that we really like, that we wanted to get into our summer league,” he said. “To me, it’s just a little more intense now, because nowyou can extend a contract to that player.
“I just think it’s become even more valuable that you know players and you have them properly evaluated.”