The Miami Heat will fill their empty roster spot with the signing of shooting guard Tyler Johnson, a league source told RealGM.com Sunday.
With teams now free to sign players to 10-day contracts, the Heat will give the Fresno State product a chance to possibly get minutes behind Dwyane Wade. Any player signed to two 10-day contracts with the same team must then be signed for the rest of the regular season or released.
Johnson was signed to the Heat training camp squad after a strong Summer League performance in which he averaged 12.5 points on 55.1 percent field goal shooting, 3.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 22.8 minutes in 10 games. He appeared in one Heat preseason game totaling 17 points, four steals, four rebounds and two assists in an overtime victory against the San Antonio Spurs.
The 6-foot-3 guard did not make the final regular season roster -- with the last spot claimed by fellow undrafted rookie Andre Dawkins -- and went on to play for the Heat's NBA Development League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce. He averaged 18.5 points on 47.7 percent field goal shooting and 46.3 percent 3-point shooting along with 4.4 rebounds and 3.8 assists in 13 games played for the Skyforce.
Miami let go of Dawkins earlier this week in advance of an NBA deadline that would have guaranteed his contract for the duration of the season. They have since recalled rookie point guard Shabazz Napier back from the Skyforce amid continued struggles from both Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole.
You can follow Surya Fernandez on Twitter @SuryaHeatNBA or email him at SuryaFoxSports@gmail.com .
