Free agency wing Jamal Cain has agreed to a two-way contract with the Pelicans, according to Adrian Wojanrowski of ESPN (Twitter link).Cain, 25, spent the first two years of his career with the Heat. He featured in 44 games for the Heat between 2022 and 2024, averaging 4.4 points and 2.0 rebounds per game.
The 6’6″ guard/forward has impressed in limited time with Miami, averaging 8.0 points and 5.3 boards in a three-game win streak in 2022/23, and posting 18 points and six rebounds in a win over the Warriors in ’23-24.
Cain spent the first four seasons of his college career at Marquette before transferring to Oakland. After going undrafted in 2022, he joined the Heat and signed a two-way contract.
While he only appeared in a few games for the Heat during the regular season, he saw far more action in Miami’s Summer League, preseason, and G League. In two seasons in Miami, he averaged 10.9 PPG in nine preseason games, followed by 21.6 PPG, 9.3 RPG, and 1.6 SPG on.540/.372/.815 shooting splits in two years with the Skyforce.
Cain requested a conventional contract last offseason but did not receive one before signing a two-way contract with Maimi can not obtain a promotion from his two-way contract during his two seasons with the Heat due to the team’s roster congestion with young two-way players. After the Heat filled all three of their two-way berths early in free agency and subsequently completed their regular roster, it was evident Cain would not return.
Now, the Pelicans have a productive winger who has spent two years in Miami’s successful development program. Our two-way contract tracker for 2024/25 shows that the Pelicans only have one such place filled, which is occupied by Malcolm Hill. For what it’s worth, No. 47 overall pick Antonio Reeves hasn’t signed his rookie contract with the Pelicans, so he may fill one of the two available positions alongside Cain.
Leave a Reply