Heat guard has Miami roots
Georges-Hunt, born in South Florida, is on 10-day contract.
NEW YORK — Marcus Georges-Hunt will have little trouble adjusting when he gets back to South Florida.
Georges-Hunt, signed to a 10-day contract by the Miami Heat on Monday, was born in Baptist Hospital and raised in South Miami until his family moved to Atlanta when he was about 10.
Georges-Hunt was a Heat fan and would spend time at the University of Miami.
“I was really into college basketball,” said. “I was on the UM campus a lot. Miami has been part of me and I still have a lot of family down there.”
Now, the 6-foot-6 combo guard, who was undrafted last year after being a fouryear starter at Georgia Tech, will get to play in front of his family on Monday when the Heat return home to face the Magic. But first, he was in uniform Friday night, when Miami played at Brooklyn, and tonight in Philadelphia.
Georges-Hunt spent Friday’s shoot-around getting to know his new teammates.
“As quick as you c an,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said when asked how long it will take Georges-Hunt to get acclimated. “Welcome to the Heat. Welcome to NBA life. But he’s a smart kid. He’ll adjust fine.
“Right now he has to fit in, fast track in the moments in between. Our staff will take care of him before and after every shoot-around, practice, have film sessions. He’s fine. When you have experience in the D-League, this is kind of the world you live in. You have to adjust quickly.”
Georges-Hunt spent time after Friday’s shoot-around getting in extra shooting and running though some plays and pick-and-rolls.
“Players were coming up to me, giving me quick hitters, terminology on how to do things,” he said. “I just want to pick up what they want me to.”
Wi t h J o s h R i c h a rd s o n missing his 18th game Friday because of a foot sprain and Dion Waiters out for a second game with a sprained ankle, Georges-Hunt was signed off the roster of the D-League’s Maine Red Claws to help fortify the backcourt.
And Spoelstra did not rule out his new player seeing playing time early. When the Heat signed forward Okaro White to a 10-day contract from the D-League, the former Florida State standout did not play in his first game but then averaged close to 19 minutes in his next six games.
“I ’ m n o t a f r a i d o f i t , ” Spoelstra said. “We’ve shown we’ll take somebody from the D-League and the next game play 30 minutes. If we need to, we will. Having Dion and J Rich out, that’s why we signed him. We wanted somebody who has experience that can fill in those gaps when we need it.”
Whe n h e d o e s g e t i n , Georges-Hunt said he wants to “fill up the stat sheet” as far as the “little things.”
“Rebounding, my defensive presence, being aggressive, assertive, just being a great defender,” he said. “That’s where it starts off.”
Georges-Hunt averaged 16.4 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.2 assists in 32 games for the Red Claws, while shooting 46.7 percent from the field and 39.7 percent on 3s. He was named to the D-League All-Star Game this week.
Williams makes impact in Cavs debut: Derrick Williams played just more than 15 minutes and scored five points in his final 12 games with the Heat.
On Thursday, three days after he was rele ased by the Heat, Williams signed a 10-day contract with the defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers and later that night he scored 12 points as the first man off the bench. Williams hit all three of his shots and made 6-of-8 free throws in Cleveland’s 118109 loss at Oklahoma City.
“This is my first day, but you can just feel the energy as soon as you step in the locker room,” Williams told reporters Thursday. “Everyone is ready to play. That’s the championship mentality everyone has here.”
Spoelstra texted with Williams before and after the game.
“I was happy for him,” Spoelstra said. “I sent him a congratulations after, even though they lost. It was good to see.”
Williams, who signed a $4.6 million contract with the Heat last summer, was released when Miami signed White to a two-year contract. Williams played 25 games for the Heat, starting 11, and averaged 5.9 points.