Dexter Pittman Rejoins Miami Heat

It’s back to South Beach for a cool customer. Dexter Pittman has been recalled back to the Miami Heat after an assignment with the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA Development League.

The former Texas Longhorn spent 10 games on this latest assignment from the Heat, along the way earning second team honors on the All-Development League Showcase Team. Pittman accumulated 12 points, 8.5 rebounds and almost 2 blocks per game.

Presumably Pittman has met the goals of the Heat brain trust while in Sioux Falls. Among the stated items on the checkoff list: 1) Get some serious playing time. Pittman pulled through on that measure averaging just over 25 minutes per contest to go with his other stats. 2) Not foul so much. In that regard, mark it off in pencil. After dueling with current and former NBA players such as Robert Sacre, Chris Johnson, Jerome Jordan, Brian Butch and Fab Melo, it can be said that Pittman held his own. However, the one matchup that flummoxed Dexter during his stint was a former member of the German national team Tim Ohlbrecht of Rio Grande Valley.

The Miami Heat has been in dire need of a rebounding presence and a defensive stopper in the middle. With a playoff push on the horizon and a chance to repeat as NBA Champions, Dexter has been putting in the work. After one contest when Pittman got into foul trouble and did not get a lot of court time he ran a series of sprints long after everyone else was gone.

As for the Sioux Falls end of things, without Pittman there is a sizeable gap to fill. The first inclination is to consider Jarvis Varnado who most likely will be released after the completion of the 10-day contract he currently has with the Heat. However, don’t expect the NCAA shot blocking record holder to suit up on Friday night against the Texas Legends. After the contract is up, Varnado has 48 hours to clear waivers and then is free to rejoin the Skyforce. That would come on Monday or Tuesday IF Varnado doesn’t sign another 10-day deal with a different team. Meaning the upcoming games that the Skyforce will play include a little basketball and some wait and see.