Heat news: Kansas guard Marcus Garrett signs two-way deal

Marcus Garrett has signed a two-way deal with the Miami Heat. On July 30, 2021, he originally signed an Exhibit-10 contract with the organization. After playing two games in the 2021 California Classic Summer League, the point guard averaged 10.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.9 blocks and a 77.8 field goal percentage. He led the team in rebounds, steals and blocks. Miami finished with a record of 2-3 (.400), ranking 17th in the Summer League.

In 2017, he ranked 54th on the RSCI Top 100. In four seasons played with the Kansas Jayhawks, the guard averaged 7.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.4 steals per game. In the 2020-21 season at Kansas, Garrett averaged 11 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 29 games played. His 11-point season average was a college career-high.

Kansas guard Marcus Garrett is signing a two-way deal with the Miami Heat, his agent Mike George of @onelegacysports tells ESPN. Garrett honored his college rep as a tenacious defender in summer league.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 2, 2021

Marcus Garrett is one of the best defenders

Garrett earned his third Big 12 All-Defensive Team selection and first second-team All-Big 12 selection last season. His steal percentage in his final college season was 2.8, which ranked fifth overall in the Big 12. On February 15, 2020, in the team’s 87-70 win over the Oklahoma Sooners, he scored a career-high 24 points, stemming from six three-pointers made.

He was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and third-team All-Big 12 in 2020. As a freshman, the Dallas native averaged 4.1 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. Furthermore, the guard declared for the 2021 NBA Draft on April 21, 2021. However, the 22-year-old ended up going undrafted.

The Miami Heat finished 40-32 (.556) in the 2020-21 NBA season, ranking sixth overall in the Eastern Conference. However, they were later swept by the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round of the playoffs.