Miami Heat Blog – Page 13 – NBA Blog

Heat sign Kyle Guy and Aric Holman to 10-day contracts

The Miami Heat have signed guard Kyle Guy and center Aric Holman to 10-day contracts using the COVID-Related Hardship Allowance.

Guy recently appeared in 11 G League games (10 starts) with the Cleveland Charge this season averaging 21.8 points, 7.4 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.00 steals and 35.0 minutes while shooting 44.6 percent from the field, 36.3 percent from three-point range and 75.9 percent from the foul line where he led the team in rebounds and three-point field goals made while finishing second in points and minutes and third in assists, steals, field goals made and free throws made. He was originally selected by New York in the second round (55th overall) in the 2019 NBA Draft before being traded to Sacramento where he appeared in 34 career NBA games with the Kings from 2019-21. Additionally, he appeared in 37 games (29 starts) with Sacramento’s G League affiliate, the Stockton Kings, and averaged 21.5 points, 4.8 assists, 3.4 rebounds, 1.14 steals and 36.9 minutes while shooting 41.3 percent from the field, 40 percent from three-point range and 75.8 percent from the foul line.

Guy will wear number 5.

Holman recently appeared in 14 G League games (four starts) with the Austin Spurs this season averaging 7.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.43 blocks and 20.5 minutes while shooting 46.9 percent from the field where he led the team in blocks and finished third in rebounds. Prior to joining Austin, Holman spent the 2020-21 season overseas in Germany where he appeared in 54 games (31 starts) with Ratiopharm Ulm and averaged 6.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 17.5 minutes while shooting 48 percent from the field. Holman, who played all four seasons at Mississippi State from 2015-19, appeared in 40 G League games (two starts) with the Texas Legends during the 2019-20 season and averaged 9.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 17.2 minutes while shooting 46.3 percent from the field.

Holman will wear number 35.

Heat sign Haywood Highsmith to a 10-day contract

The Miami Heat have signed forward Haywood Highsmith to a 10-day contract using the COVID-Related Hardship Allowance.

Highsmith recently appeared in 12 G League games (four starts) with the Delaware Blue Coats this season averaging 14.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.25 steals, 1.00 blocks and 27.8 minutes while shooting 47.2 percent from the field, 39.1 percent from three-point range and 73.7 percent from the foul line, helping the Blue Coats win the 2021 Winter Showcase championship. He finished third on the team in points, blocks and three-point field goals made.

After spending four seasons at Wheeling University from 2014-18, Highsmith signed a two-way contract with the Philadelphia 76ers, splitting the season between the Sixers and their G League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats. Highsmith appeared in five games with the 76ers in 2018-19 totaling nine points, five rebounds, two assists and a steal while shooting 40 percent (4-of-10) from the field. He has also appeared in 101 career G League games (70 starts) over three seasons, all with the Blue Coats, averaging 11.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.14 steals and 29.3 minutes while shooting 42.9 percent from the field.

Highsmith will wear number 24.

Miami Heat sign Zylan Cheatham to a 10-day contract

The Miami Heat have signed forward Zylan Cheatham to a 10-day contract using the COVID-Related Hardship Allowance.

Cheatham has started in all 13 games he has appeared in the G League with the Birmingham Squadron this season and averaged 14.2 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.15 steals and 30.6 minutes while shooting 48.7 percent from the field, 42.9 percent from three-point range and 80.6 percent from the foul line. His team-high 136 boards are currently the fifth-most in the G League as he is only one of two players in the G League averaging double-figure rebounds while shooting at least 40 percent from three-point range. Additionally, he has led Birmingham in rebounds nine times, blocks three times, steals on three occasions and points once.

Cheatham previously signed a two-way contract with the New Orleans Pelicans on July 24, 2019, appearing in four games totaling 12 points, nine rebounds, three assists, a steal and a block while shooting 66.7 percent (6-of-9) from the field. The Arizona State product has appeared in 49 career G League games (45 starts) and averaged 14.5 points, 10.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 32.0 minutes while shooting 52.6 percent from the field.

Cheatham will wear number 45.

Heat center Bam Adebayo out with thumb injury, will undergo surgery

Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo suffered a torn Ulnar Collateral Ligament in his right thumb against Denver on November 29 and will undergo surgery this weekend.

A timetable on his return will be provided post-surgery.

Adebayo has started in all 18 games he has appeared in this season and averaged 18.7 points, 10.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.11 steals and 32.9 minutes while shooting 51.9 percent from the field.

Per the South Florida Sun Sentinel, “the most versatile element of the Miami Heat lineup, the player the defense is designed around and a fulcrum for the offense, is expected to be sidelined for six weeks…. The other two centers on the Heat roster are veteran Dewayne Dedmon, who is expected to start in place of Adebayo, and rookie Omer Yurtseven, who has received only nominal playing time to this stage.”

Heat wing Max Strus injured, out with knee sprain

Here’s the Miami Herald with some relatively good news on a Heat injury that could have been a lot worse:

The level of anxiety was high for Miami Heat wing Max Strus during the weekend, but the feeling Monday was one of relief.

After exiting the court late in Saturday’s win over the Memphis Grizzlies following an awkward landing on a dunk attempt, an MRI on Strus’ left knee returned negative and he was diagnosed with a sprained left knee.

Strus, 25, won’t play in the Heat’s road game against the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday (7:30 p.m., TNT) and expects to miss at least “a couple weeks. But he avoided the worst possible outcome after tearing the ACL in his left knee less than two years ago in December 2019.

Miami Heat waive DJ Stewart, Javonte Smart, Micah Potter and Dru Smith

The Miami Heat have waived Micah Potter, Javonte Smart, Dru Smith and DJ Stewart.

Potter, who was originally signed by the HEAT on September 10, appeared in three preseason games with Miami and averaged 10.3 points, 11.3 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 24.0 minutes.

Smart, who was originally signed by the HEAT on September 10, appeared in five preseason games with Miami and averaged 8.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 18.1 minutes.

Smith, who was originally signed by the HEAT on September 10, appeared in three preseason games with Miami and averaged 5.0 points, 2.0 assists, 1.7 rebounds, 1.00 steals and 12.7 minutes.

Stewart, who was originally signed by the HEAT on August 16, appeared in four preseason games with Miami and averaged 4.3 points, 2.3 rebounds and 17.1 minutes.

Heat guard Tyler Herro off to good start in preseason

Heat guard Tyler Herro got off to a strong start in preseason today. Via the Sun Sentinel:

There was a time when Tyler Herro was the walking embodiment of Miami Heat trade rumors.

Such as at March’s NBA trading deadline. Then August’s start of offseason personnel period.

And then there are nights such as Monday’s 125-99 preseason victory over the Atlanta Hawks at FTX Arena, when a reminder was offered of what remains in place and what just a calendar year earlier helped fuel the Heat to within two victories of the 2020 NBA title.

With Jimmy Butler given the night off for rest, Herro scored 16 first-quarter points on the way to 26 in 26 minutes, in a display that bodes promising for what is expected to be a sixth-man role.

It was an encouraging opening statement for the Heat in an exhibition that included several, including a heartening Heat debut by Kyle Lowry, offensive consistency from Bam Adebayo and encouraging moments from Duncan Robinson, Max Strus and even Omer Yurtseven and KZ Okpala.

On Goran Dragic no longer being a member of the Miami Heat

For the first time in a long time, the Miami Heat will be taking the court without guard Goran Dragic on the roster. Via the Miami Herald:

“At the end of the day, this is a bottom line business. It’s about winning,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said in advance of Monday night’s preseason opener against the Atlanta Hawks at FTX Arena. “But you really also want to be able to develop meaningful lasting relationships. That’s the part that you treasure the most. That’s the most gratifying in this profession for all of us, when you have these shared experiences that build incredible memories.

“That’s what I have with Goran. I think back to obviously the really competitive experiences we had in the playoffs. But equally as important and equally as gratifying to me are the trips over to Slovenia and visiting him and his family, and seeing where he was from, how he is and how people respond to him in his country. It was really cool.”

The Heat traded Dragic and center Precious Achiuwa to the Toronto Raptors to acquire six-time All-Star guard Kyle Lowry this past summer. Dragic, 35, publicly expressed his desire to be moved to another team shortly after the deal was made, but Toronto has yet to fulfill his request and the affable Dragic is preparing to begin the season with the Raptors.

Miami Heat expand Ruth Riley Hunter’s role, add her to basketball operations department

The Miami Heat announced today that Ruth Riley Hunter will expand her current broadcast role and serve as Broadcast Analyst & Basketball Analytics/Player Programs Manager.

Riley Hunter, an Olympic Gold Medalist, two-time WNBA Champion, WNBA Finals MVP, NCAA Champion, Sports Business Leader, Global Humanitarian and a 2019 Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame inductee will add basketball analytics and other Basketball Operations related duties to her current broadcast role where she will begin her fourth season serving as the team’s radio analyst on all home games as well as a television studio analyst for all home and road games. Since being drafted by the Miami Sol after graduating from Notre Dame Summa Cum Laude with a degree in Psychology in 2001, she has garnered a wealth of experience and basketball knowledge including a 13-year playing career in the WNBA as well as serving as General Manager of the WNBA’s San Antonio Stars, First Vice President of the WNBA Player’s Association, a NBA/WNBA Ambassador and Global Director of the NBA Academy’s Women’s Program.

In her time as General Manager of the Stars, Riley Hunter governed the team’s business and financial operations, implemented strategic planning, managed all team personnel decisions and captained the basketball operations staff, coaching staff and scouts. In addition to her basketball acumen, she has served as a spokesperson for organizations such as Share Our Strength and the United Nations Foundation and was selected a JCI Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World Honoree.

Miami Heat sign Caleb Martin to a two-way contract

The Miami Heat have signed Caleb Martin to a two-way contract.

Per the Miami Herald, “Martin joins undrafted Kansas rookie guard Marcus Garrett as the two Heat players with two-way contracts. Teams can carry up to two players on two-way deals, and those players can be on their NBA team’s active list for as many as 50 regular-season games. Garrett is a former Naismith Defensive Player of the Year with a developing offensive game.”

And per the South Florida Sun Sentinel, “because of where the Heat stand against the NBA luxury tax, they are expected to go with only 14 players under standard contract when their regular season opens Oct. 21 at FTX Arena against the Milwaukee Bucks: Bam Adebayo, Jimmy Butler, Kyle Lowry, P.J. Tucker, Duncan Robinson, Tyler Herro, Dewayne Dedmon, Markieff Morris, Max Strus, Gabe Vincent, Victor Oladipo, KZ Okpala, Udonis Haslem and Omer Yurtseven.”

Martin appeared in 53 games (three starts) with the Charlotte Hornets last season and averaged 5.0 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 15.4 minutes. He scored in double-figures six times, including a 17-point, 10-rebound double-double vs. the Lakers on April 13. He split the previous season between the Hornets and their G League affiliate, the Greensboro Swarm, starting in all 28 games he appeared in for the Swarm and averaged 21.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.61 steals and 36.9 minutes while shooting 47 percent from the field and 37.1 percent from three-point range. He led the team in three-point field goals made and finished second in points, scoring average and field goals made.

Martin helped lead Nevada to a 29-4 record and an NCAA Tournament berth in 2019 as a senior after appearing in 34 games (33 starts) averaging 19.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.44 steals and 34.1 minutes while leading the team in points, scoring average, steals, field goals made, three-point field goals made and free throws made.