Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Reed to get training-camp invite
Former UM guard expected to sign non-guaranteed deal
The Miami Heat will add a former University of Miami guard to their camp competition, with plans to sign Davon Reed to a nonguaranteed contract, an NBA source has confirmed to the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
While the Heat likely already have their regularseason roster set, the team has two two-way contracts still available.
Reed, a second-round pick by the Phoenix Suns in 2017, spent part of 2017-18 with the Suns and part of last season with the Indiana Pacers, otherwise playing in the G League for the Northern Arizona Suns and Fort Wayne Mad Ants.
Once signed, Reed will become the 18th player under contract to the Heat, with teams allowed to carry up to 20 during the offseason before trimming to a maximum of 15 by the start of the regular season (excluding two-way contracts, which do not count against the NBA salary cap).
Reed figures to compete with undrafted rookie free agents Kyle Alexander, Jeremiah Martin and Chris Silva for a possible two-way contract, with others potentially to be added to that mix.
The Heat, because of their position hard up against the NBA hard cap, figure to carry 14 players during the regular season, with those spots expected to go to Bam Adebayo, Jimmy Butler, Goran Dragic, Udonis Haslem, Tyler Herro, James Johnson, Derrick Jones Jr., Meyers Leonard, Kendrick Nunn, KZ Okpala, Kelly Olynyk, Duncan Robinson, Dion Waiters and Justise Winslow. Of that group, only Robinson and Nunn do not have fully guaranteed contracts for 2019-20. Robinson already has been guaranteed $1 million, with Nunn guaranteed $150,000.
The Heat open training camp Oct. 1, with their preseason opening the following week and their regular season starting Oct. 23 at AmericanAirlines Arena against the Memphis Grizzlies.
Reed, 24, a New Jersey native, played four seasons for the Hurricanes, averaging 10.3 points and 3.6 rebounds, including 14.9 and 4.8 as a senior. A versatile defender, he was named All-Atlantic Coast Conference third team as a senior, as well as to the ACC’s AllDefensive Team.
Reed then was sidelined for the start of his NBA career by knee surgery, not making his Suns debut until Jan. 14 of his rookie season. He then was waived in favor of NBA veteran scorer Jamal Crawford on the eve of 2018-19, spending last season on a two-way contract with the Pacers.
In all, Reed has made 31 NBA appearances, averaging 2.4 points and 1.5 rebounds in 9.3 minutes per game.
Reed then played for the Golden State Warriors during summer league in July, including a 12-point performance against the Heat at the California Classic in Sacramento.
Reed is attempting to become the latest University of Miami player to also play for the Heat. Among former Hurricanes who have played for the Heat were championship forward James Jones, who was with the team from 2008 to 2014; 1999 first-round pick Tim James, the forward who played four games with the team in 1999-2000; and guard Robert Hite, who played 12 games for the team in 2006-07, after being signed as a free agent.