Miami Heat Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Heat Promote Dru Smith To Standard Contract, Convert Cole Swider To Two-Way

October 21st, 2023 at 11:21am CST by Tristan Tucker

The Heat have signed guard Dru Smith to a multi-year standard NBA contract and converted sharpshooting forward Cole Swider to a two-way deal, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link).

In a subsequent move, the team waived both forward Cheick Diallo and wing Justin Champagnie, who were both on Exhibit 10 contracts.

Smith, 25, has been in the Heat’s developmental system since signing a training camp deal in 2021. He spent that year playing with Miami’s G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, before once again signing a camp deal with the Heat in 2022. At the conclusion of 2022’s training camp, Smith signed a two-way contract with the team.

At the beginning of the 2022/23 season, the Heat alternated between Orlando Robinson and Smith on two-way deals, with Jamal Cain on the other, swapping the pair out a handful of times. Smith then wound up signing with the Nets on a two-way before rejoining Miami this free agency period. He holds career averages of 2.9 points and 1.5 assists in 15 career NBA games.

Now, Smith is rewarded with a multi-year standard contract which has a $425K opening-night guarantee, according to Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press (Twitter link). It’s a similar structure to the contract Robinson wound up getting from Miami, with a July trigger date in its second year, tweets HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto. The Heat were only able to sign Smith to a minimum-salary deal due to their proximity to the tax aprons.

Smith had a solid preseason, averaging 6.5 points and 5.3 assists in four games. Head coach Erik Spoelstra praised his during training camp and the Heat appreciated his ability to run the floor, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald (Twitter link). Smith and Kyle Lowry are the only true point guards on Miami’s roster.

It’s interesting to see Miami opt for Smith over Cain for the 14th roster spot, which he had been hoping to get, according to Jackson. Cain averaged 11.3 points and 8.3 rebounds in four preseason games. However, as Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald (Twitter link) observes, keeping Cain on a two-way may make it easier for the Heat to keep him in their system going forward because they may opt to switch out the 14th roster spot during the season.

Swider is another player who earned plenty of buzz during training camp and the preseason. He opened the preseason with a 17-point performance while knocking down five three-pointers. Swider, who spent last season on a two-way deal with the Lakers before being waived this summer, averaged 11.2 points and knocked down 37.1% of his three-pointers (7.0 attempts) across five appearances in the preseason. The 6’9″ forward shot 43.6% from deep in 27 regular season G League games last year.

Swider is hoping to follow in Heat sharpshooter Duncan Robinson‘s footsteps by being frontcourt shooter who enjoys a successful career with Miami. The Syracuse product joins Cain and R.J. Hampton as the team’s two-way players.

As for the Heat’s camp players, Diallo played sparingly in the preseason, averaging 2.7 rebounds in 6.9 minutes. Champagnie played much more, averaging 7.5 points in 22.1 minutes, positioning himself well in the camp battle. Even though both players are being waived, the Heat likely hope to funnel both to the Skyforce, where they’d be eligible for a bonus worth up to $75K if they are there for 60 or more days. Champagnie played with the Skyforce last season and Miami could revisit him in the future, like they did with Smith.

With the series of moves, the Heat’s opening night roster appears set, though there’s still time for them to cycle through moree Exhibit 10 signings. Miami has 14 players on standard deals and three players on two-way contracts. The club will keep the 15th spot on the roster open for now due to its proximity to the tax.

Atlantic Notes: Barnes, O. Porter, Harden, Beverley, Celtics

October 21st, 2023 at 7:02am CST by Luke Adams

Third-year Raptors forward Scottie Barnes exited Friday’s preseason finale against the Wizards with a sprained right foot and was ruled out for the remainder of the contest, tweets Blake Murphy of Sportsnet.ca.

The former Rookie of the Year appeared to roll his ankle/foot on a non-contact play, as Esfandiar Baraheni of SDPN relays (Twitter video link). However, after the game, Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic downplayed the injury, telling reporters that Barnes is “completely fine,” per Josh Lewenberg of TSN.ca (Twitter link).

Here’s more from around the Atlantic:

After missing most of last season due to a foot injury, Raptors forward Otto Porter Jr. returned to action on Friday, playing for the first time since November 14, notes Lewenberg (Twitter link). As Murphy tweets, Rajakovic is enthusiastic about Porter’s fit on the roster, but said the team will be “careful” about how it uses him following his extended layoff, prioritizing his long-term health.
Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer (subscription required) suggests that the Bulls and Heat could be potential trade partners for the Sixers if their James Harden negotiations with the Clippers remain at an impasse. However, Pompey isn’t citing any sources saying that Chicago or Miami is actually talking to Philadelphia, so it sounds more like speculation than anything solid. Harden remained away from the 76ers on Friday and missed the preseason finale due to what the club is calling a personal matter.
Patrick Beverley, who joined the Sixers as a free agent this summer, has taken on a familiar role of veteran leader and defensive spark-plug, Pompey writes in another article for The Inquirer. Beverley’s leadership has impressed his new head coach. “He’s putting in a tremendous amount of work pre- and post-practice,” Nick Nurse said. “He really, really does a good job of organizing, and that’s important. We need a veteran guy that can get us organized, settled down, and all those kinds of things and then he’s a got a little bit on the other end, too.”
In a mailbag for NBC Sports Boston, Chris Forsberg considers what the Celtics‘ regular season rotation might look like, evaluating which players beyond the team’s top eight might emerge as reliable contributors.

Rory Maher contributed to this post.

Heat Notes: Adebayo, Sioux Falls, Richardson, Highsmith, Roster Decisions

October 19th, 2023 at 7:52pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Bam Adebayo is eligible to sign a two-year, $97MM extension until Monday. However, the Heat center realizes he could get a longer and more lucrative contract if he waits, he told Barry Jackson and Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald.

Adebayo could meet the super-max criteria and become eligible to sign a four-year, $245MM extension in the 2024 offseason if he makes an All-NBA team or is named Defensive Player of the Year this season.

“The money difference does play a part,” he said. “But we’ll have that conversation at some point.”

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Despite the logistics of shuttling players from Point A to B, the Heat announced a five-year agreement to keep their NBA G League affiliate in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, according to Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel (Twitter link). It’s approximately 1,824 miles between the two cities.
Foot injuries continue to mar Josh Richardson‘s preseason. He departed Wednesday’s preseason loss with a right foot injury and was underwent an MRI on his foot on Thursday, according to Chiang. The MRI results were negative and he’s day-to-day. He sat out the Heat’s second and third preseason games due to left foot discomfort.
An MRI on Haywood Highsmith‘s left knee revealed a sprain and he’ll be reevaluated in two weeks, Chiang tweets. He recently had his $1.9MM salary guaranteed.
There are six players on the Heat’s current 19-man camp roster competing for the 14th spot on the standard roster and the three two-way contract slots. Out of that group, Jamal Cain, Dru Smith and Cole Swider have stood out, according to Chiang. Cain and Smith are already on two-way deals and looking to get a promotion to the standard roster. “It’s just gratifying to see that kind of improvement from a young player, particularly when it’s not easy,” coach Erik Spoelstra said of Cain.

Heat Notes: Richardson, CBA, Cain, Highsmith, More

October 19th, 2023 at 7:56am CST by Luke Adams

Josh Richardson, who returned to the Heat as a free agent this summer after playing for the team from 2015-19, has been used exclusively as a point guard this fall, writes Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald. While Richardson spent some time at the point during his first stint in Miami, he had morphed in recent years into more of a swingman who plays the two and three.

“First day of camp, [coaches said] I’m with the point guards and I’m like, ‘All right,'” Richardson said. “And every day since that, it’s, ‘I’m with the point guards. All right.'”

Richardson added that he doesn’t mind the move back to point guard, since serving as the primary ball-handler in the Heat’s system is “not too difficult.”

“It’s quick. Space and pace,” he said. “It’s not like I’m just walking down calling plays every time.”

Unfortunately, Richardson left Wednesday’s game early due to a foot injury, as Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald notes (via Twitter). The 30-year-old will be reevaluated on Thursday and the Heat will be hoping the injury is minor, given their relative lack of point guard depth.

Here’s more out of Miami:

Jackson and Chiang of The Miami Herald take a closer look at how new rules in the Collective Bargaining Agreement affecting teams over the tax apron(s) will impact the Heat during the 2023/24 season and going forward. We recently covered how the trade rules will change for tax-apron teams after the season. As the Herald writes note, Miami also won’t be able to sign players on the buyout market this season if their pre-waiver salaries were greater than the mid-level exception ($12.4MM)
While two-way player Jamal Cain was hoping to be part of the Heat’s standard roster by now, he remains confident in his ability and believes that promotion will happen sooner or later, according to Chiang. “It doesn’t change my work ethic. I feel like it amped my work ethic a little higher,” Cain said. “No frustration. I know I’m an NBA player. I know I can play at this level, so it’s just a matter of time.”
Heat forward Haywood Highsmith scored a team-high 15 points in Wednesday’s preseason loss to Brooklyn and may be on his way to earning some of the rotation minutes that had been earmarked for Nikola Jovic, says Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel. “He just has great fortitude,” head coach Erik Spoelstra said of Highsmith. “He’s just been so consistent with his work.”
Appearing on SiriusXM NBA Radio (Twitter video link), big man Bam Adebayo said that he wishes the Damian Lillard trade had been completed earlier in the offseason for the sake of the players involved in the final deal — as well as the Heat players rumored to be part of a potential package for Lillard. “Guys got kids, guys got families, guys need to know what’s about to happen,” Adebayo said. “Some people in that mix of what happened got that phone call and… it was like three or four days before camp. … That’s a lot to move in 72 hours.”

Heat Notes: Herro, Butler, Jaquez, Jovic, Champagnie

October 16th, 2023 at 11:58am CST by Arthur Hill

Tyler Herro is still in Miami after a long summer of trade rumors and he’s determined to show the Heat that he was worth keeping, writes Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald. Herro appeared on the way out when Damian Lillard asked the Trail Blazers for a trade in early July and listed Miami as his only preference. But Herro’s role with the Heat is secure now and he’s ready to make an impact, as he showed with a 30-point performance on Sunday night.

“I’m always ambitious,” he said. “Motivation kind of drives me and it’s who I am. But that’s who I am, so that’s me every day. Just being myself. This year is obviously, I wouldn’t even call it revenge or a bounce back. It’s just a year to be myself and just have fun and enjoying what I love to do, which is play basketball. Tonight was a little bit of it.”

Herro was a productive scorer from everywhere on the court on Sunday, Chiang adds, finishing 11-of-19 from the field, 4-of-7 from three-point range, and 4-of-5 on free throws. He displayed an effective floater near the basket as nine of his shots came from inside the lane.

“Man, he’s just so efficient now,” Bam Adebayo said. “His movements, less dribbles, not trying to do much. He gets straight to his points, gets straight to his shots.”

There’s more from Miami:

Jimmy Butler was held out of Sunday’s game after undergoing two separate dental surgeries this week, but he’s expected to return before the end of the preseason, Chiang adds.
Coach Eric Spoelstra cited progress by Drew Peterson and Alondes Williams, who were both waived over the weekend, Chiang states in another Miami Herald story. Both players were part of Miami’s Summer League team, and Spoelstra hopes they will continue to develop with the organization’s G League affiliate. “We’re encouraged by both of them,” he said. “This was part of the agreement to transition them and get guys on to Sioux Falls. It happens in stages. These can be great opportunities still. We want to invest in them for the entire season. That’s ideally the plan. They got a lot better these last eight weeks and we’re looking forward to this next step in Sioux Falls.”
Nagging injuries have virtually eliminated any chance that Jaime Jaquez or Nikola Jovic will be in the rotation when the regular season begins, according to Ira Winderman of The Sun Sentinel. Jaquez has been limited by a groin strain in the preseason, while Jovic is dealing with a bruised knee.
Justin Champagnie may be the favorite to fill the open roster spot if the Heat don’t try to sign someone else, Winderman speculates in a separate piece. He expects Cole Swider to be converted to a two-way contract, with current two-way player Dru Smith possibly the odd man out.

Heat Notes: Cain, Smith, Butler, Injuries, Peterson, Williams

October 15th, 2023 at 5:33pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Jamal Cain is making a strong bid to have his two-way contract with the Heat converted into a standard deal, according to Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel. Cain had 24 points and 10 rebounds in 27 minutes against San Antonio on Friday.

Miami currently has 13 players on standard deals and needs to add at least one more by the season opener.

“He really competed and played hard,” coach Erik Spoelstra said, as relayed by the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson. “It’s satisfying to see. He’s put in so much time in the last year. His effort and attention to details defensively have gotten a lot better.”

We have more on the Heat:

Dru Smith is participating in his third straight training camp with Miami and also hopes to earn a spot on the 15-man roster, according to The Miami Herald’s Anthony Chiang. “I’m just really grateful and really appreciative of the opportunities that I’ve been able to have, the chances that I have in front of me right now,” Smith said. “After that, it’s in my hands but also it’s out of my hands. Whatever they decide to do, that’s what they decide to do. So I just have to go out there and try to play the best basketball that I can and let the rest fall where it may.” Smith currently holds a two-way contract.
Jimmy Butler is recovering from dental surgery, Winderman tweets. He remains on track to play in the team’s season opener on Oct. 25.
Caleb Martin (knee), Jaime Jaquez Jr. (groin), Nikola Jovic (hip), R.J. Hampton (hip), Smith (hamstring) and Josh Richardson (foot) also sat out the Heat’s preseason game against the Grizzlies on Sunday, Winderman tweets.
Spoelstra is hopeful Drew Peterson and Alondes Williams will join the Heat’s NBA G League team, Sioux Falls Skyforce, after they clear waivers, Winderman relays in another tweet. The duo was cut loose on Saturday.

Spurs Notes: Wembanyama, Vassell, Champagnie, Johnson

October 14th, 2023 at 5:11pm CST by Arthur Hill

Victor Wembanyama has been playing in pickup games with his Spurs teammates for several weeks, but sometimes they’re still amazed by what he can do, writes Andrew Lopez of ESPN. The French rookie’s unique combination of size and skill was on display Friday night against Miami as he posted 23 points, four rebounds, four assists and three blocks in 23 minutes.

Included in those points were a couple of spectacular plays that demonstrate how Wembanyama can transform San Antonio’s offense. One came late in the first half on a give-and-go with Tre Jones where Wembanyama leaped for a pass and easily slammed it with two hands.

“Towards me, the problem is rarely that the ball is thrown too high,” Wembanyama said. “It only comes down to how well we know each other.”

Wembanyama also thrilled the crowd by catching a fast-break pass just inside the three-point line and using a Eurostep to get to the basket without dribbling.

“He is going to make special plays,” Devin Vassell said. “I’m going to keep talking about it, he is going to make a play every game where you just look down like what the heck just happened.”

There’s more from San Antonio:

Vassell is already figuring out how his game can improve by having a weapon like Wembanyama, according to Tom Orsborn of The San Antonio Express-News. Vassell was 6-of-7 on three-point shots Friday night, with two of them coming directly off assists from the big man. “With Vic, it makes the game so easy,” said Vassell, who recently signed a five-year extension. “As soon as he rolls and pops, he has so much attention that we are just wide open on the kickout. The thing is just him trusting us and us trusting him and us just building chemistry off of that.”
Julian Champagnie is trying to win a roster spot with the Spurs while his twin brother Justin Champagnie is doing the same with the Heat, and it marked a rare occurrence when they were on the court at the same time on Friday, Orsborn adds. The twins said the only other time they have faced each other was in a G League game last season.
Keldon Johnson missed his second straight preseason game due to concerns over lingering hamstring soreness, Orsborn states in a separate story. Johnson has been able to practice, but the Spurs are being careful about using him in games. “We know what Keldon can do,” Doug McDermott said. “He will be ready once his body tells him he is ready. But he is still the same Keldon. He is going to be aggressive going to the rim. His jumper looks great as well and he has been a great leader for us in the locker room.”

Heat Cut Drew Peterson, Alondes Williams

October 14th, 2023 at 2:59pm CST by Luke Adams

The Heat have waived forward Drew Peterson and guard Alondes Williams, the team announced today in a press release. The cuts reduce Miami’s roster count from 21 players to 19.

Peterson, who went undrafted earlier this year out of USC, was a two-time All-Pac-12 honoree while with the Trojans. Across 33 games in 2022/23, the 6’8″ super-senior averaged 13.9 PPG with a shooting line of .442/.358/.752. He also contributed 6.2 RPG, 4.3 APG, 1.1 SPG and 0.8 BPG.

Williams went undrafted in 2022 out of Wake Forest and spent most of the season with the Long Island Nets in the G League. He appeared in 24 games at that level, including 12 starts, and averaged 13.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.2 steals in 27.6 minutes per game. He also played one game for the Brooklyn Nets in December.

Peterson and Williams, who each appeared in one preseason game with the Heat, had been on Exhibit 10 contracts. Although they won’t make Miami’s regular season roster, the plan is still for them to join the Sioux Falls Skyforce, the Heat’s NBAGL affiliate, tweets Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald. Assuming Peterson and Williams spend at least 60 days with the Skyforce, they’ll receive Exhibit 10 bonuses worth $75K.

The Heat are still carrying three players on Exhibit 10 contracts: Cole Swider, Justin Champagnie, and Cheick Diallo. Since Miami only has 13 players on standard deals, one of those camp invitees seems likely to either earn a spot on the 15-man roster or get a two-way contract (if the Heat convert a two-way player to a standard deal). Of the three, Swider has generated the most buzz so far this fall.

And-Ones: Sarr, Haslem, Rivers, Dybantsa, More

October 14th, 2023 at 12:12pm CST by Tristan Tucker

Perth Wildcats center Alexandre Sarr is turning heads with his play, showcasing a wide range of skills, including elite rim protection and rebounding, and looking like a potential No. 1 overall NBA draft pick, ESPN’s Olgun Uluc writes.

Sarr is 7’1″ with a 7’5″ wingspan, according to Uluc, and he flashed that length, along with great timing, defense in space, and the ability to knock down shots in September’s showcase between the G League Ignite and the Wildcats. Sarr put up 17 points, seven rebounds and six blocks in the first matchup between the two teams and then 26 points, 10 rebounds, six blocks and three assists in the next.

“I don’t call myself a unicorn, but I think that’s something that’s important for me,” Sarr said. “To be able to do everything on the court. I’m a versatile big. I can play on ball, off ball, can shoot threes, crash the glass. Then, on defense, [I can] guard most positions, I think… I always try to make the right play, and play the game the right way.”

According to Uluc, Sarr is trying to silence past criticism by showing off a high motor and is hoping to improve his overall stamina as the year goes on. In the first three games of Australia’s National Basketball League season, Sarr is averaging 12.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks, along with shooting 71.4% from the field and 66.7% from deep. His play and maturity at 18 years old have stood out to his teammates, who are high on his potential.

“There’s not like a ceiling,” teammate Jordan Usher said. “Only thing I told him was to continue to work hard and be yourself, because I’m really excited to see what NBA team gets him, because they really have a ball of clay. A true ball of clay.”

Sarr came in at No. 4 on ESPN’s latest 2024 NBA mock draft.

We have more odds and ends from around the basketball world:

Former Heat forward Udonis Haslem spent 20 straight seasons with Miami, but now he’s tackling a new line of work, Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald writes. Haslem served as a guest analyst on TNT’s broadcast of Miami’s preseason game against the Spurs on Friday night. He also appeared on CBS Sports HQ as an NBA analyst earlier in October and intends to continue pursuing broadcasting work. “I have thoughts on the game, I have respect around the league, and I’m going to shoot it straight,” Haslem said. “I’ve had people tell me a lot of times that’s something I should look into. It’s just something I’m comfortable doing and I think it will be fun. I’m looking forward to the new challenge. I’ve been so comfortable for so long. This is something that really takes me out of my comfort zone.“
After being let go by the Sixers, Doc Rivers is now an analyst at ESPN. In an interview with Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe (subscriber link), Rivers takes a look back at his summer and explains why he needed a break from the sidelines after 24 straight years as an NBA head coach. “I’ve done things this summer that I had not been able to do in more than 20 years,” he said. “Traveling to Paris, spending a lot of time in the Vineyard, going to Ireland. And when you go on vacation, there’s no phone ringing. It’s been phenomenal. Clearly something I didn’t know I needed.”
In an Insider-only story for ESPN.com, Jonathan Givony shares his impressions of several high school prospects who took part in a USA Basketball junior national team mini-camp last weekend. Notably, Givony reiterates that A.J. Dybantsa, who recently reclassified to the recruiting class of 2025, looks like the early frontrunner to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA draft.
Howard Beck of The Ringer poses five questions that will define the 2023/24 season, including how patient Joel Embiid will be with the Sixers, how the NBA’s new rules impacting player rest will affect the regular season, and whether or not the Heat have a blockbuster move they can make.

Hampton Sustains Hamstring Strain Friday

October 13th, 2023 at 8:41pm CST by Rory Maher

Guard RJ Hampton, who is on a two-way deal with the Heat, sustained a right hamstring strain during warmups on Friday evening and was ruled out prior to Miami’s preseason game against San Antonio, tweets Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel. We’ll have to wait for more updates on the severity of the injury.