Miami Heat Blog – Page 34 – NBA Blog

Dion Waiters adding to his game

Dion Waiters is a fun player to watch. To discuss. To listen to. He’s also better than a lot of people thought he was. Here’s the Palm Beach Post with more:

Dion Waiters has always been able to get to the rim. That has never really been a question when it comes to Waiters’ game.

But will Waiters ever become an efficient finisher once he gets to the basket? That’s the question that has followed the 25-year-old guard throughout his NBA career.

Since joining the Heat in the summer of 2016, Waiters has made improving this aspect of his game a priority. And Heat coaches have stayed on top of him about it.

It’s clear that the extra work is paying off.

Among players averaging 12 or more drives per game this season entering Wednesday, Waiters is ranked sixth in the league with a field-goal percentage of 51.4 on drives ahead of players like Ben Simmons, Russell Westbrook and even teammate Goran Dragic. And Waiters is doing it on a troublesome left ankle that’s already caused him issues this season.

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Heat: A.J. Hammons, Derrick Walton Jr to G League

The Miami Heat have assigned center A.J. Hammons to their NBA G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce. Derrick Walton Jr. will also join the Skyforce as part of his two-way contract.

Hammons, who was selected in the second round (46th overall) by Dallas in the 2016 NBA Draft, appeared in 22 games with the Mavericks last season and averaged 2.2 points and 1.6 rebounds in 7.4 minutes of action while shooting 40.5 percent from the field. Additionally, he was named the 2016 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and to the All-Big Ten First Team during his senior season at Purdue.

Hassan Whiteside dealing with knee bruise

Here’s the Palm Beach Post reporting on a very key member of the Heat:

Center Hassan Whiteside will miss his second game because of bruised left knee when the Heat host the Atlanta Hawks tonight and coach Erik Spoelstra will go with the same starting five from Miami’s home-opening win against Indiana.

Whiteside sat out the 112-108 victory Saturday after bumping knees with Magic center Nikola Vucevic three nights earlier. The Heat are giving no timetable for his return, only saying he is day-to-day.

“He’s feeling better, he’s doing more but he won’t play tonight,” Spoelstra said today after the team’s shootaround. “Stay with the routine and he’s doing a great job at that.”

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Rodney McGruder undergoes surgery

The Miami HEAT announced that guard Rodney McGruder underwent successful surgery to repair a left tibia stress fracture. The 90-minute procedure was performed by Dr. Charles Jordan and HEAT team physician Dr. Harlan Selesnick at Miami Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Institute at Doctors Hospital. He is expected to begin rehabilitation in one week. A timetable for his return has not been set.

McGruder appeared in five preseason games (five starts) with the HEAT, averaging 7.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 22.3 minutes while shooting 51.9 percent from the field and 44.4 percent from three-point range.

Heat convert Matt Williams Jr deal into a two-way contract

The Miami Heat have converted the contract of Matt Williams Jr. into a two-way contract.

Williams Jr., who was originally signed by the HEAT on July 24, appeared in all six preseason games with Miami and averaged 2.2 points in 6.4 minutes of action. He scored nine points on 3-of-6 shooting from three-point range in a win vs. Washington on October 11. Williams Jr. previously appeared in eight Summer League games (six starts) with the HEAT in Orlando and Las Vegas and averaged 9.9 points and 2.6 rebounds while shooting 38 percent from the field, 39 percent from three-point range and a perfect 2-of-2 from the foul line. He started all six games in Las Vegas with Miami and shot 45 percent from three-point range, leading the team in three-point field goals made four times, including a 5-of-8 performance from beyond the arc vs. Washington on July 10 and a 6-of-9 output from downtown vs. Memphis on July 15.

The University of Central Florida graduate finished his collegiate career as the school’s all-time leader in three-point field goals made (274) and became the 18th player in program history to score at least 1,000 points. He appeared in 36 games (all starts) as a senior and averaged 15.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 36.5 minutes while shooting 39.1 percent from the field, 38.4 percent from three-point range and 81.1 percent from the foul line. He set the single-season school and conference records for three-point field goals made (126) and set the Knights’ single-game three-point field goals made record after connecting on 11 against USF on January 17. He capped the season scoring the fifth-most points for a single-season in school history and earned the team’s MVP award.

Heat waive DeAndre Liggins, Erik McCree and Tony Mitchell

The Miami Heat have waived DeAndre Liggins, Erik McCree and Tony Mitchell.

Liggins, who was signed on October 10, started in his only preseason game with the HEAT last night against Philadelphia and totaled five points, three rebounds and a steal in 26:36 minutes of action.

McCree, who was signed on September 18, appeared in two games with Miami this preseason totaling six points, three rebounds, one assist and a steal while shooting 3-of-8 from the field.

Mitchell, who was signed on October 12, did not appear in a game with the HEAT.

The HEAT’s roster now stands at 17.

Heat sign Tony Mitchell, waive Larry Drew II

The Miami Heat have signed forward Tony Mitchell and waived guard Larry Drew II.

Mitchell has appeared in 78 NBA G League games (52 starts) and averaged 21.2 points, 5.9 points, 2.8 assists, 1.28 steals and 32.7 minutes while shooting 42.5 percent from the field. He earned G League Rookie of the Year honors in 2013 while being named to the All-G League First Team and All-G League Rookie Team. The 2013 All-Star also captured back-to-back Slam Dunk titles in 2013 and 2014. Mitchell has spent the last three seasons overseas playing for a variety of teams, most recently he split last season between three teams, appearing in 35 games (13 starts) averaging 13.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 21.6 minutes while shooting 42 percent from the field.

Mitchell has appeared in three career NBA games, all with the Milwaukee Bucks during the 2013-14 season, totaling six points, one rebound, one assist and a steal while shooting 60 percent (3-of-5) from the field.

Drew II, who was signed by the HEAT on September 5, appeared in one preseason game totaling one rebound, one assist and a steal in 5:00 minutes of action on October 5 at Brooklyn.

Heat sign DeAndre Liggins

The Miami Heat have signed DeAndre Liggins.

Liggins, who was originally signed by the HEAT to two 10-day contracts in 2014, spent two seasons with Miami’s NBA G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, helping them capture the 2016 Championship after appearing in 34 games (33 starts) and averaging 13.0 points, 7.0 assists, 6.3 rebounds, 2.06 steals and 38.4 minutes while shooting 42.8 percent from the field, 43.4 percent from three-point range and 71.1 percent from the foul line. The two-time NBA G League Defensive Player of the Year started all seven postseason games during the Skyforce’s championship run and averaged 10.9 points, 7.7 assists, 7.0 rebounds, 2.00 steals and 37.8 minutes while shooting 41.5 percent from the field.

Liggins split last season between the Dallas Mavericks and Cleveland Cavaliers appearing in 62 games (19 starts) and averaged 2.5 points and 1.7 rebounds in 12.5 minutes of action. He has appeared in 119 career NBA games (20 starts) averaging 2.1 points, 1.5 rebounds and 9.9 minutes while shooting 41.4 percent from the field.

Heat exercise contract option on Justise Winslow

The Miami Heat have exercised their fourth-year team option on Justise Winslow.

Winslow, who was originally selected by the HEAT in the first round (10th overall) in the 2015 NBA Draft, has appeared in 96 career games (23 starts) with Miami averaging 7.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 29.8 minutes while shooting 40 percent from the field. He was one of eight HEAT players to average double-figures in points (10.9) last season, marking the most for any team in the NBA. The former NBA All-Rookie Second Team selection appeared in 78 games in 2015-16, becoming just the fifth rookie to lead the HEAT in games played during a single-season. The former NCAA champion at Duke paired with Josh Richardson to become just the fourth set of Miami rookies to connect on at least 25 three-point field goals (32) and block at least 25 shots (26) during their rookie seasons. Additionally, Winslow was the third-youngest player in the league to start on Opening Night during the 2015-16 season at just 20 years, 216 days.

Heat sign forward Erik McCree

The Miami Heat yesterday signed forward Erik McCree.

The deal is likely non-guaranteed and just for training camp.

McCree played three seasons at Louisiana Tech appearing in 99 games (98 starts) and averaged 14.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 29.1 minutes while shooting 46.4 percent from the field, 34.8 percent from three-point range and 73.5 percent from the foul line. He became just the sixth player in school history to record at least 1,400 points and 700 rebounds in just three seasons.

During his senior season, he led the team in points (585), rebounds (295), field goals made (202), free throws made (127) and minutes (1,047) as he earned All-Conference USA First Team honors. McCree registered 13 double-doubles, the second-most in the conference and the fifth-most by a Bulldog during a single-season over the last 25 years, including a streak of five-straight, becoming the first La. Tech player to accomplish the feat since Paul Millsap in 2005.

Additionally, he finished last season as one of only four forwards in the country to connect on at least 200 field goals, 50 three-point field goals and 125 free throws.

Before transferring to Louisiana Tech, McCree appeared in 24 games as a freshman at Murray State.