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Tennessee Basketball: Kyle Alexander earns contract with the Heat

By Colton Pickard

KNOXVILLE, TN - FEBRUARY 5: Kyle Alexander #11 of the Tennessee Volunteers looks to pass during the game between the Missouri Tigers and the Tennessee Volunteers at Thompson-Boling Arena on February 5, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won 72-60. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - FEBRUARY 5: Kyle Alexander #11 of the Tennessee Volunteers looks to pass during the game between the Missouri Tigers and the Tennessee Volunteers at Thompson-Boling Arena on February 5, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won 72-60. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images) /
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After impressive Summer League performances, Kyle Alexander has earned an NBA contract from the Miami Heat.

With Kyle Alexander officially signing an NBA contract with the Miami Heat, all four Tennessee NBA prospects are now signed to an NBA team. Alexander was the only Vol of the four not drafted but has done the dirty work to earn an NBA contract.

Alexander averaged 4.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks in his Summer League appearances. Those numbers aren’t jaw-dropping, but the Heat saw something in Alexander to give him a shot to earn his way onto their roster.

Signing this contract doesn’t mean we will see Alexander in a Heat uniform this season, but it is more likely he will be working primarily with their G-League team. The Exhibit 10 contract he signed can become a two-way contract if the Heat want to call up Alexander.

Seeing that can be very promising for a player like Alexander. Coming into Summer League, I don’t think many people thought Alexander would be very productive in the NBA or be in the NBA at all.

It’s a pleasant surprise though to see him impressing the higher-ups in the Heat organization enough for them to want to keep him for at least this upcoming season.

The Heat currently don’t have a reliable center for the future, so if things work out with Alexander, he could fill that role. I don’t see him taking over that role this year or maybe even next year but a couple of years in development could set him up to fill that role in the future.

Probably the most exciting part of this contract is the possibility of Alexander playing in Miami throughout his current contract. If Alexander can impress enough in the G-League, we could see one of Tennessee’s best shot blockers make his NBA debut next season.

On the other side of this contract, it doesn’t guarantee Alexander he will be a part of the Heat organization once the season kicks off. If he can’t get the job done in training camp, he could very well be given the boot.

I don’t expect that to happen, but anything can happen in the NBA. This is an exciting time to be a Tennessee fan. Vols are now being spread throughout the league giving fans some NBA options if they didn’t have a rooting interest already.

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I love that former Tennessee players are now taking advantage of their opportunities and putting their skills to work on the hardwood. Alexander can develop into a reliable big man for any team in the NBA.

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