Over the last three seasons, the Miami Heat have invested so much in the development of guard Dru Smith, whom they have waived and subsequently brought back a handful of times.
Last year, albeit a small sample, we saw some of that development. However, Smith suffered his second consecutive season-ending knee injury in December. And while the Heat were able to offer the 27-year-old guard a two-way qualifying offer, a years of service caveat could end his Heat tenure prematurely.
Dru Smith can only sign standard contract with Heat:
In 14 games last season, Smith averaged 6.2 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.5 steals across 14 games, shooting 50.8 percent from the floor while knocking down 16 of his 30 3-point attempts (50.8 percent).
However, players who have more than three years of experience can’t sign two-way contracts — regardless if they receive the QO — unless they fit this criteria:
- Four years of NBA experience
- Didn’t appear in any regular season/playoff games during injured season (Smith played in 14)
- Was on team’s roster for full season (Smith was not).
- He’s signing a one-year two-way deal
The Heat have two of their three two-way spots filled with Vlad Goldin and Myron Gardner, who spent his last two seasons with the Osceola Magic (Orlando G-League) before playing with the Heat’s Summer League team.
Smith has played just 38 games in three seasons, averaging 4.5 points, 1.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.1 steals in 14.7 minutes. On a per-75 possession basis, his numbers equate to 11.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.7 steals. He suffered a torn Achilles last December after tearing his ACL the season prior.
Miami has one roster spot available. The consequence for burning a standard is that it would eat up that last spot — while a two-way contract wouldn’t — for roughly $2.3 million (Smith would earn $2.4M, but would only count for $2.3M against cap).
The Heat are also the luxury tax by nearly $2 million — so they would have pressure to make a cost-cutting move (or two) by next February’s deadline to avoid repeater tax penalties, which become more punitive this year.
Would you add Smith to a standard contract? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
***
To check out our other content, click here.
Follow Hot Hot Hoops on Twitter/X here!
Follow Hot Hot Hoops on Instagram here!
Subscribe to our YouTube channel here!
- Millions worth of Heat memorabilia reportedly stolen in ‘one of the biggest sports heists ever’
- 1 Pipe dream and 4 attainable trade targets still available for the Heat
- Former Heat backup big could be heading overseas
- NBA Insider predicts Heat reunion with former draftee
- Dru Smith’s time with Heat could be coming to an end
- Report: Heat ‘weighed’ a Terry Rozier-Marcus Smart swap
- Norman Powell to debut with Jamaica in FIBA World Cup pre-qualifiers
Get kuminga .hes prob so pissed at kerr doesnt want to be there.Think if we got him for wiggy and terry that would make us fav in east
Kuminga is a bit of a wannabe Primadonna, plus he hasn’t yet proven himself. Wiggins is a known quantity. Kuminga isn’t. Heat can still trade Rozier.
The heat shouldn’t resign dru smith
I like him,Heat needs his type of a player. Without injuries, he would be Heats starting point guard till now.
The problem is, that he is probably not in shape to start. We already have a good backup point guard and possibly a point guard of the future in KJ, which also needs to play.
So, as hard is to say that, I wouldn’t if things will be as are now.
I agree with this, also… We are set in the backcourt. Too bad Dru isn’t a frontcourt player.
when he was healthy last year he was playing like an all star.unfort has had two bad injuries one where the arenas floor looked like it had a sudden drop the other one he just blew out something.i would sign him.davs a bull dog but he gets bull dogged.dru is much more stoutdt than dav
Dru has never played anywhere near an all-star level. He has played just 38 games in three seasons, averaging 4.5 points, 1.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.1 steals in 14.7 minutes.
Luke Walton All-Star
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/14743788/who-nba-players-found-suddenly-relevant
when he played he was very good watch the games ,dav got minutos and was ok.if dru were healthy id take him over dav
I understand what both SunMan and HFL are saying here. Numbers-wise, Dru didn’t blow it away like SunMan showed with the stats. But with the eye-test, Dru was playing really well like HFL is implying. I recall us all being really happy on this board with his play in the past. The injuries were devastating.
The main problem Heat had last year was a lack of playmaking. With Dru playing, this problem would be much smaller. He didnt need to put on crazy numbers. His job was to deliver the ball to the right place at the right time. He did that at the high level, higher then any other player in the team.
That’s because two of our top three playmakers (Quitter and Rozier) were underperforming. We were happy to have Dru. He looked pretty good running the offense compared to Rozier. After Jakucionis was drafted and Mitchell was re-singed, it made Dru expendable.
50% 2s 53% 3s great d playmaker.if hed stay healthy team would be better.davs a good backup,when he was drafted dav played about 28 mins game 42% 31% 11pts sac decided hes not the guy made him backup asap.
Sacto already had Fox when they drafted Mitchell. They tried to turn him into a SG/scorer. He was better suited to PG. His career was stagnant and never developed in Sacto.
dav was good last year sun .hope he can continue to grow .
Me too. Worst case scenario, he’s an excellent back-up and defensive closer. He also holds his teammates accountable on the defensive end similar to the way PJ Tucker did. No “dogging it” when he is on the court.
hes a dawg.goes thru screens not under screens,i think the future is bright for him based on his play last year.just needs to try to score little bit more.cant be playing 30 mins scoring 8pts.he def got better as the season wore on i mentioned to rc thought he wasnt good .rc said have some patience and he was right he def played some nice basketball.
Not yet. If he is available by training camp and Heat have an open spot maybe. With him available (assuming he is healthy) He’s insurance . Spo won’t be forced to throw Jakucionis into a baptism of fire if Herro or Mitchel go down.
Dru is my favorite young undrafted player since Airplane Mode Jones. If he hadn’t gotten injured, I think he would basically be filling the Davion Mitchell role with this team. A bulldog defender that doesn’t need the ball in his hand to impact the game.
Alas, he suffered two of the most devastating injuries in the NBA, and has played about a half season of basketball in the past two years with the Heat. It’s a cold business, but it’s a business. I understand if the Heat don’t bring him back. Still tho, it’s a bummer.
Airplane Mode! I miss those dunks.
Yes, I would sign him. It’s risky, but if the Heat want avoid the repeater tax there is at least one other move they have to make anyway. And that could open up the roster spot for our backup big, or PF. I know his injury history gives pause, but this is where I thought I saw a very solid true point guard in the making. I may overvalue him, and maybe I’m wrong, but I really think a lot of Dru’s ability.
Before Dru was injured last season, he was in line for a rookie contract. He was the closest thing to a point guard Miami had until Mitchell arrived at the trade deadline a few months later. Miami has since drafted Jakucionis as a PG of the future.
It is unfortunate Smith can’t be signed to another two-way contract. Until/unless he can demonstrate he is healthy and injury free, I don’t think Miami or any other team will risk signing him to a regular contract. However, another team may choose to sign him on a two-way contract. Miami is prohibited from doing so.
Things have changed since Dru’s injury. Now Miami has Herro, Mitchell, Rozier and Jakucionis as PGs. Dru would be 5th in line or 4th (if Jakucionis spends most of his time in Sioux Falls) or 3rd if Rozier’s mojo is nowhere to be found.
Miami needs another big (like Vucevich) and another clutch scorer (like DeRozan) before they sign a 5th point guard.
If Dru can’t sign a 2-way contract, no, I would not sign him to a regular contract. He has to show that he is, and can remain, healthy. It is doubtful that another team would sign him. He can be added to the SkyForce to continue his rehabilitation. Plus, at the moment, signing a backup center is a much higher priority.
Oops, strike that. I read Dru can sign a 2-way contract with any other team, but not with the Heat. Per Miami Herald…
While Dru Smith is eligible to sign a two-way contract with any other team in the league because he has fewer than four years of NBA experience, he’s not eligible to sign another two-way deal with the Heat because he has already been on a two-way contract with Miami during three different salary cap years.
Yup. Heat have other priorities
Indeed… Backup center is that priority. Unless we are rolling with the three big lineup of Ware, Bam and Nico. One injury to either and that’s all shot to hell. Regardless, we need size. Tired of being the short team all the time.
I wish I was a little bit taller, wish I was a baller…
Jovic, to me, is not a true big except for his height (sounds funny, but true). He is more a tall sf who can fill in at pf. He is not a center. We need a Vucevic type, or at least Vlad.
Yup. He’s definitely not a banger/bruiser.