Having beforehand acquired latest surprising worth from an undrafted prospect out of Oakland University, the Miami Heat have moved in that path once more.
The Heat on Friday signed guard Jamal Cain to an Exhibit 10 contract, which can enable the summer-league prospect to attend coaching camp after which probably obtain a small assure if he strikes on to the staff’s G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce.
Cain went undrafted out of Oakland University final month, agreeing to play in summer time league for the Heat shortly thereafter. He follows within the footsteps of former Oakland guard Kendrick Nunn, who thrived as a Heat rookie in 2019-20 after going undrafted in 2018 out of the Detroit-area college.
“It raised my confidence to a whole different level,” Cain stated of following within the path of Nunn. “And I actually talked to Kendrick, as well, just about like how it is and what I need to do in order to be successful here. And he told me a lot; he helped me a lot.”
Cain, 23 performed 4 seasons at Marquette earlier than ending his faculty eligibility at Oakland.
He then went for eight factors and 5 rebounds within the Heat’s summer-league opener on July 2 in opposition to the Los Angeles Lakers on the California Classic, solely to then be sidelined by COVID, compelled to quarantine at a San Francisco resort.
“You talk about unfortunate,” stated Heat assistant coach Malik Allen, who’s guiding the Heat summer time roster. “He was like one of the lone bright spots in our Lakers game. And that night, he’s not feeling good. Then he finds out he had COVID.”
Cain missed three video games earlier than rejoining the Heat on the NBA Las Vegas Summer League.
“To start off, those six days were probably the longest six days I think I’d ever experienced,” Cain stated. “Finding out I had COVID was like heartbreaking for me, because I was just so excited to be out here and hoop with these guys. But things happen. You got to deal with it. You got to find a way to get better from it.”
At 6 toes 7, Cain presents a rangy wing presence. He averaged 19.9 factors on .499 capturing and 10.2 rebounds final season in being named Horizon League co-Player of the Year, his convention’s lone participant to common double figures in factors and rebounds.
“They just like that I can guard multiple positions, the way I can defend, the way I can kind of be all over the floor,” Cain stated of his suggestions from the Heat. “Just play to my strengths, trying to be athletic on the wing, trying to take advantage of the mismatches and stuff like that.”
The signing of Cain offers the Heat 18 gamers underneath contract, two shy of the NBA offseason most. That quantity successfully is nineteen, with veteran ahead Udonis Haslem anticipated to return for a twentieth season.
Cain joins fellow summer-league prospects Orlando Robinson and Jamaree Bouyea with Exhibit 10 tryout contracts, with the Heat capable of funnel 4 such gamers on to their G League affiliate. Like Robinson, the undrafted heart out of Fresno State, and Bouyea, the undrafted guard out of San Francisco, Cain is eligible to compete in coaching camp for the standard roster spot or a two-way contract.
Teams should trim to a most of 15 gamers underneath customary contract and as much as two on two-way contracts by the regular-season opener.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com