USC Men's Basketball: Drew Peterson Officially Inks New NBA Training Camp Deal

The former Trojans forward will have an opportunity to compete for a pro opportunity.

After going undrafted upon graduating from USC this past June, former two-time All-Pac-12 USC Trojans combo forward Drew Peterson impressed Miami Heat personnel while playing for the reigning East champs' Summer League team in Las Vegas. Across 24.5 minutes a night, Peterson posted averages of 10 points on a .467/.471/.800 slash line, 2.8 boards, 2.0 dimes, 1.5 swipes and 0.5 rejections a game. That 47.1% three-point conversion rate happened on 4.3 looks from deep.

He had already verbally committed to join the team on an Exhibit 10 training camp contract earlier this past week, but now Barry Jackson and Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald report that it's official.

Though the Heat have all three of their two-way openings now occupied after signing Peterson's Summer League teammate Jamal Cain on Friday, they do still have two openings on their standard 15-man roster. 

Jackson and Chiang note that the Heat seem to be in something of a holding pattern when it comes to those two spots, as the team is apparently still pining for Portland Trail Blazers All-NBA point guard Damian Lillard, who has demanded to be dealt specifically to South Beach.

Though the unproven Peterson may be a bit of a long shot to make the actual roster of a team hoping to compete for a championship this season, Miami has a major deficit when it comes to big man bench depth, and his floor spacing could actually behoove the club (he's a 35.8% career three-point shooter on 3.4 triples a night for his college career). 

Should Peterson be waived by the Heat but manage to sign with their NBA G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, and stick on the club for at least 60 days, he will be eligible for a signing bonus worth up to $75,000.