Cheatham retained, but team has other options with Lowry in protocols
The Miami Heat are retaining recently signed forward Zylan Cheatham on his 10-day emergency contract as they work through their machinations regarding the NBA’s health-andsafety protocols.
Cheatham was signed Wednesday into the NBA’s “COVID-Related Hardship Allowance” while forward Caleb Martin was in COVID protocols. Now, with Martin cleared, Cheatham is shifting into the allowance created when veteran point guard Kyle Lowry was placed into coronavirus protocols Saturday.
Cheatham’s 10-day contract expires after the Heat’s Dec. 31 road game against the Houston Rockets.
The Heat, though, have greater latitude with Lowry’s absence. Under NBA rules, the Heat only were allowed to sign a candidate that was eligible for a two-way deal, such as Cheatham, because Martin is on such a contract.
The Heat can sign a player with any level of NBA experience to replace Lowry. Several long-time NBA veterans have been signed into such exceptions elsewhere around the league, including Joe Johnson with the Boston Celtics, Lance Stephenson with the Atlanta Hawks and Isaiah Thomas with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Several NBA veterans have taken to social media to lobby for such deals, including J.R. Smith and former Heat players Mario Chalmers and Michael Beasley.
Teams must release such emergency additions once their rosters have been cleared from players in protocols.
Such contracts count neither against the salary cap nor the luxury tax, unlike typical 10-day contracts or additional roster spots granted to teams with significant injury absences.
Entering Sunday’s game against the Orlando Magic at FTX Arena, the Heat had been without Lowry only twice this season, with thirdyear Gabe Vincent stepping into those voids.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said he is taking it all one move at a time.
“I think you can get a little overwhelmed if you’re just trying to figure everything out and trying to map out the next two months. We don’t have to do that. All we have to do is focus on today. And guys have gained some confidence, feel good about how we’re playing.”
Dedmon relief
Spoelstra said there was a sense of relief that Dewayne Dedmon’s sprained left knee sustained in Thursday night’s victory over the Detroit Pistons should only have him out one to two weeks.
“When you see one of your players like that on the floor, it’s not hard for you mind to drift,” Spoelstra said. “I know he probably didn’t sleep well that night. And when we all got the news the next day, it was like, ‘OK, we all can enjoy our Christmas.’ “
Butler back
The Heat had Jimmy Butler back Sunday from his bruised tailbone, but P.J. Tucker missed a third consecutive game with nerve inflammation in his lower left leg.
Spoelstra said having Butler back was a boost with Lowry going out.
“And if we have one guy going out,” he said, “it’s good that we have one guy coming back in.”
Spoelstra said losing someone like Lowry to protocols is just part of the new reality.
“Look, this is the reality of the world the last year and a half, plus,” he said. “And in this Association, we’ve been dealing with this, last year and this year. And you just have to adapt, stay the course as much as possible. Focus on your reality. Focus on solutions and not get overwhelmed with things you can control.
“Whenever you get a piece of information, everybody’s instinct is to blame somebody. It’s a crazy virus. It really is. It just brings out the worst in people. It can happen. The league, they have to make really tough decisions right now. I don’t envy what they’re having to do, but organizations are having to make tough decisions daily. The same thing with players’ association, staffs. Just have to stay the course.”