Zylan Cheatham thought he was going home for the holidays. Instead, he signed with the Heat
When Zylan Cheatham woke up Tuesday morning, his plan was to head home to Phoenix to spend the holidays with his family.
But Cheatham, 26, instead woke up Tuesday to a long list of text messages and missed calls from his agent after taking part in the G League Winter Showcase in Las Vegas as a member of the Birmingham Squadron.
“Went to sleep, got some good rest, woke up Tuesday morning at 7:30-8 a.m,” Cheatham said to the Miami Herald. “My agent was blowing my phone up. I was confused. I thought something happened, thought I was in trouble or something. Woke up and he was just like, ‘Have you left to Phoenix yet?’”
Of course, Cheatham had not left to Phoenix yet. He had just woken up and was trying to figure out why he had so many missed calls.
“I was like, ‘No, just woke up,’” Cheatham recalls. “He was like, ‘Well, you’re not going to Phoenix anymore, you’re going to Miami.’ I had just woke up, so I was kind of confused at first like, ‘What do you mean?’ He was like, ‘Miami is signing you. Get ready. They should be calling you soon. Congratulations.’ I shed my tears and jumped out of bed. It was just an unbelievable moment for me.”
Instead of heading home for the holidays, Cheatham departed Las Vegas and arrived to Miami on Wednesday to sign a 10-day contract with the Miami Heat as a COVID-19 replacement for two-way contract guard Caleb Martin.
“Everybody has been embracing me so far,” Cheatham said of his first impression of the Heat ahead of Thursday’s matchup against the Detroit Pistons at FTX Arena. “Obviously, the weather and the city speaks for itself. But just coming into a new environment, it’s a great culture and team that’s expected to win. These guys expect to win and that’s the type of environment that I want to be a part of. I’m just happy that everybody is embracing me. Coach [Erik] Spoelstra, Pat [Riley], Andy [Elisburg], I mean everybody has pretty much embraced me so far. I’m just excited about it.”
Cheatham’s signing comes after the NBA and National Basketball Players Association came to an agreement Sunday on rules allowing teams to sign a replacement player to a 10-day contract for each positive COVID-19 case it has on its roster without it impacting teams’ salary cap and luxury tax situation. According to a memo shared with teams, these rules will remain in place until Jan. 19, when the league will offer further guidance on the hardship rules for the remainder of the season.
In normal circumstances, NBA teams are not allowed to sign players to 10-day contracts until Jan. 5 this season.
“It’s an opportunity of a lifetime. It gives guys like me an opportunity to accomplish our dreams,” Cheatham said of the amended rules. “It’s obviously an unfortunate situation. You never want to see anybody go in protocols or go down, by any means. But on the flip side of that, it’s a dream come true.”
Cheatham, who went undrafted out of Arizona State in 2019, has appeared in four NBA games — all during the 2019-20 season with the New Orleans Pelicans. He totaled 12 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the field and 0-of-1 shooting on threes, nine rebounds and three assists.
Beginning this season in the G League, Cheatham (6-5, 220) averaged 14.2 points on 49.1 percent shooting from the field and 42.9 percent shooting on threes, 10.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.6 blocks in 13 games with the Birmingham Squadron.
Cheatham has averaged 14.4 points, 10.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists while shooting 51.5 percent from the field and 34 percent on 2.5 three-point attempts per game in 62 appearances during his three seasons in the G League.
“I would describe myself as an all around forward,” he said. “I can guard multiple spots. I can play multiple spots on offense. I can pass, shoot. I’m a solid ball handler, solid decision maker. Pretty much an all-around type of guy. High energy, I bring passion to the floor every time I step on. Defensively, I bring a different level and a different edge to any team I’m on.”
Once Martin is out of the NBA’s health and safety protocols and is cleared to resume basketball activities, Cheatham’s contract with the Heat will be terminated even if it’s before his 10-day clock has expired. He’ll still receive the full salary of the 10-day deal if it ends early.
“Pretty much the same way I’ve approached every day,” Cheatham said of how he’ll approach the next 10 days. “This whole year, these last couple years, just controlling what I can control. Working, staying ready for my number to be called, being prepared and hoping for the best pretty much.”
NEAR TRIPLE-DOUBLE
Kyle Lowry came close to recording his second triple-double of the season for the Heat, but he fell just short.
Lowry finished Tuesday’s blowout win over the Indiana Pacers with eight points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists in 30 minutes. He spent the final 10:01 of the game on the bench because of the lopsided score.
“It ain’t meaningful,” Lowry said following the game. “I ain’t going to break no records. ... It’s one of those things where everybody is like, ‘Try to get one.’ Once you don’t get it, you don’t chase it. I’m not going to chase it, I’m not going to be thirsty for it. I don’t care about it.”
Lowry, 35, has already turned in 19 triple-double performances during his NBA career. He’s content with that number.
“I have enough in my career,” Lowry said. “To be a 6-foot guy, I’m pretty happy with the amount that I have.”
▪ The Heat ruled out Bam Adebayo (thumb surgery), Jimmy Butler (tail bone contusion), Martin (protocols), Markieff Morris (whiplash), Victor Oladipo (right knee injury recovery) and P.J. Tucker (lower left leg nerve inflammation) for Thursday’s game against the Pistons.
