Heat Two-Way Contract Player Admits He Had to Take a Major Pay Cut to Stay With Team

Heat two-way contract player admits to taking a major pay cut

The Heat signed this two-way contract player, and he admitted that he had to accept a major pay cut in order to stay with the team.

After the Heat recently signed Klay Thompson and center Nick Richards, the team completed another two-way contract move, with Keshad Johnson receiving his third two-way contract. The deal marks the official start of Johnson's third season with the Heat, and there is no doubt that he made a major sacrifice to remain with the team by accepting a significant pay reduction.

According to the Miami Herald, Johnson signed a standard contract last season, but after signing a two-way contract, his annual salary dropped from $2 million to $678,882. However, the 25-year-old player said he “didn’t feel like it was difficult.”

“This is a business,” Johnson said Wednesday through the Miami Herald. “For players like me who have always been on minimum contracts, you want to stay here as long as possible and chase the dream for as long as possible. I feel comfortable with the Heat; I’m not ready to leave, and I still have a lot of unfinished business here.”

He even said that “several teams” offered him a standard contract, but he preferred to remain in Miami.

The forward joined the Heat as an undrafted free agent from the University of Arizona, where he was teammates with Pelle Larsson. He appeared in 16 games during his rookie season and 32 games in his second season. He showed impressive athletic ability in games, especially by winning the dunk contest during this year’s February All-Star Weekend, which fully displayed his abilities.

“I have to take advantage of every opportunity I get to play,” Johnson said.

Regardless, it is still unknown who Johnson will play alongside during his third NBA season. He will be one of the Heat’s three two-way players, alongside Vladislav Goldin and Tre Donaldson.