Josh Richardson and Okaro White will receive full and partial guarantees on their contracts for the upcoming season, respectively, Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel reported on Thursday.
Richardson’s $1.5 million 2017-18 salary will become guaranteed Friday and the Miami Heat will meet White’s $226,000 partial-guarantee Saturday deadline as well.
“I mean I’m enjoying the process,” said Richardson, “I’m just trying to keep my head down, start to work.”
The University of Tennessee product will not take part in either NBA summer league after he averaged 10.2 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists last season. However, Richardson will continue working on his game this offseason because he will be eligible for a four-year extension in August.
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“I mean to know that my contract can be guaranteed and I’m up for extension, it wakes you up again, if you needed that. It’s definitely surreal,” Richardson said.
In White’s case, Saturday’s guarantee was the first of three partial guarantees that will total his 1.4 million 2017-18 salary. He can earn his second guarantee on Aug. 1 and the rest of his salary can become guaranteed at the start of the regular season.
The Florida State product will play on the Heat’s summer league team, becoming the only player on the roster with NBA experience. White found limited playing time last year coming off the bench after spending the beginning of the season with the Heat’s D-League affiliate in Sioux Falls. He averaged 2.8 points and 2.3 rebounds in 35 games.
“I had a good amount of time to adjust to the game, and adjust to the style of pace and adjust to the way we play as a team,” White said. “I think I’m a more relaxed player. I think an older player and a more relaxed player.”
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