Walton Jr. glad for shots in two towns
BOCA RATON — With the ability to use two-way contracts to alternate players between the NBA and the G-League, the Miami Heat used their first such contract on former Michigan standout Derrick Walton Jr.
The Heat’s recent history of using the former D-League to their advantage, Walton said, was why he signed with the organization this summer.
“It was (100 percent a selling point),” Walton said Friday. “Coming from the program I c ame from in college at Michigan where we were all about development and in my four years, I just wanted to get better every day ... it was pretty much a no-brainer for me.”
As part of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement put into place on July 1, teams can use up to two t wo-way contracts where players can spend up to 45 days at the NBA level and the rest of the time in the G-League. Any player on a two-way contract is unable to be claimed by another organization.
Miami, which has seen Hassan Whiteside grow into an All-NBA center and Tyler Johnson become a reliable bench option at point guard after playing for the Sioux Falls Skyforce, struck Walton as the perfect opportunity not only to improve his game, but to learn what he should expect in South Dakota.
“I asked them (how their experience was), but I also know mine will be a little different,” Walton said. “Overall, just going in with the same mind-set that I want to play as well as I can every time.”
The only player in Michigan history to score at least 1,000 points, grab 500 rebounds, and record 400 assists, Walton spent this year’s Summer League with the Orlando Magic after going undrafted. In July, Walton signed with the Heat, becoming their first two-way player in franchise history.
“The guys welcomed me ever since I got here,” Walton said. “I competed really hard and I’m just really looking forward to following the process ... and start to learn the professional game.”
Though Walton is likely to spend most of his time in Sioux Falls this season, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra believes the 6-foot-1 guard will get chances to contribute at the NBA level.
“Derrick is fast-tracking,” Spoelstra said. “This is a lot for him. We like his promise and what he can bring. He’s going to be just fine with a little bit more time, but that position — walking into this training camp where all the other guards are familiar — he has some catching up to do.”
Walton added, “I think it’s a great situation for me personally being a guy that wants to be really good at this game ... and being able to go and play my game down in Sioux Falls.”