The Heat made a pair of roster cuts today, waiving guards D.J. Stewart Jr. and Jon Elmore, according to NBA.com’s transaction log.
Stewart is a 23-year-old guard who went undrafted out of Mississippi State in 2021 and spent most of his rookie season playing for the Sioux Falls Skyforce, Miami’s G League affiliate. In 36 total NBAGL regular season appearances for the Skyforce and the Austin Spurs last season, Stewart averaged 17.6 PPG, 4.5 RPG, and 3.1 APG on .480/.361/.764 shooting in 34.1 minutes per contest.
Miami claimed Stewart off waivers from Dallas on Friday, and it appears the plan is to have him report back to the Skyforce to open the 2022/23 season.
Elmore is likely also headed for the Skyforce after spending a day with the Heat on an Exhibit 10 contract. The 26-year-old went undrafted in 2019 after a standout college career at Marshall. He has played professionally for European clubs in Italy, Hungary, Greece and Lithuania over the past three years.
With today’s cuts, the Heat’s roster now appears set for the regular season. The team has 13 players on guaranteed contracts, Haywood Highsmith with a partial guarantee, and Dru Smith and Jamal Cain on two-way deals.
I wished they didnt lose DJ Stewart last year, and liked him more than Jamal Cain, so awesome to have him back in the system at least, and hopefully it leads to him getting the last roster spot when the time comes for them to sign a 15th guy, although I would have to expect someone to give him an opportunity, with so many teams that could use help at the 4/on the wing, even with so many guys becoming available right now, in addition to others who were already surprisingly available as well
Dallas shouldnt have let him go, in my opinion