Category: Miami Heat Blog

The Miami Heat are just 13-15 so far this season. Here’s the South Florida Sun Sentinel on the team’s modest start:

The expectations have been muted.

Depth that had been considered a Miami Heat strength entering the season largely has proven to be something considerably less.

Part of it has been injuries. Part of it has been the shift of 2021-22 NBA Sixth Man of the Year Tyler Herro into the starting lineup, with energetic former reserve Caleb Martin now also a starter.

So these days, even the small steps are celebrated, such as Monday night’s 87-82 victory over the Indiana Pacers, when the Heat’s three-man bench of Max Strus, Dewayne Dedmon and Victor Oladipo combined for 20 points.

While hardly overwhelming, it was a step forward, considering it provided the Heat with nearly a quarter of the team’s scoring and that the trio outscored Indiana’s bench.

FULL ARTICLE

The Miami Heat have signed guard Dru Smith to a two-way contract.

Also today, the Heat waived center Orlando Robinson from his two-way contract.

Smith, who was previously converted to a two-way contract by the HEAT on October 13 before being waived on November 13, has started all three games with Miami’s G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce and averaged 17.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 3.00 steals, 1.33 blocks and 34.0 minutes while shooting 48.8 percent from the field, 42.1 percent from three-point range and 80 percent from the foul line. He scored 28 points against the Windy City Bulls on November 19 while also recording four steals and blocking three shots.

Smith started all 25 games he appeared in as a senior at Missouri in 2020-21, averaging 14.1 points, 3.9 assists, 3.5 rebounds, 2.04 steals and 33.9 minutes while shooting 44.4 percent from the field, 39.8 percent from three-point range and 83 percent from the foul line. He was named to the All-SEC First Team and became the first player in school history to be named to the SEC All-Defensive Team after leading the conference in steals for the second consecutive season. He also led the team in points, assists, steals, field goals made, free throws made and minutes and earned Conference Player of the Week three times, the most by any player that season.

Robinson appeared in two games with the HEAT this season, totaling 14 points, nine rebounds, two steals, an assist and a block.

The Miami Heat have signed center Orlando Robinson to a two-way contract.

Also today, the Heat waived guard Dru Smith from his two-way contract.

Robinson has started in all four games with the HEAT’s G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, averaging a team-leading 20.0 points, 9.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.25 steals, 1.00 blocks and 31.2 minutes while shooting 53.2 percent from the field and a perfect 7-of-7 from the foul line. He leads the team in points, rebounds, blocks and field goals made and posted a 21-point, 10-rebound double-double at Iowa on November 5. He was previously signed by Miami on July 7 before being waived on October 13 after appearing in four preseason games.

Robinson played three seasons at Fresno State where he started in all 90 career games. In his final season as a junior, Robinson started all 36 games with the Bulldogs and averaged 19.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.19 blocks, 1.00 steals and 33.2 minutes. He became just one of two players in NCAA history to accumulate at least 700 points, 300 rebounds and 100 assists in a single season. Robinson was named to the All-Mountain West First Team, the NABC All-District 17 First Team and was selected as a Lefty Driesell Defensive All-American. He led the team in points, rebounds, blocks, field goals made, free throws made and minutes and finished second on the team in assists and steals. Additionally, he recorded 18 20-point games, including three 30-point performances, and posted 12 double-doubles.

Robinson will wear number 25.

Smith appeared in one game with the HEAT this season, totaling two points, one rebound and a steal in 5:37 minutes of action.

The Miami Heat have converted guard Dru Smith to a two-way contract.

In addition, Miami has waived Jamaree Bouyea, Marcus Garrett, Mychal Mulder and Orlando Robinson.

Smith, who originally signed with the HEAT on September 20, appeared in all five preseason games with Miami and averaged 7.4 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 15.1 minutes while shooting 45.5 percent from the field and 41.7 percent from three-point range. Last season, he appeared in 10 games (five starts) with Miami’s G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, and averaged 8.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.20 steals and 27.5 minutes. Smith started all 25 games he appeared in as a senior at Missouri in 2020-21, averaging 14.1 points, 3.9 assists, 3.5 rebounds, 2.04 steals and 33.9 minutes while shooting 44.4 percent from the field, 39.8 percent from three-point range and 83 percent from the foul line. He was named to the All-SEC First Team and became the first player in school history to be named to the SEC All-Defensive Team after leading the conference in steals for the second consecutive season. He also led the team in points, assists, steals, field goals made, free throws made and minutes and earned Conference Player of the Week three times, the most by any player that season.

Bouyea, who signed with the HEAT on July 14, appeared in four preseason games with Miami and averaged 8.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.25 steals and 17.2 minutes.

Garrett, who signed a two-way contract with the HEAT on July 16, appeared in four preseason games (one start) with Miami and averaged 3.3 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.25 steals and 18.4 minutes.

Mulder, who signed with the HEAT on October 9, appeared in one preseason game with Miami totaling three points and an assist in 9:34 minutes of action.

Robinson, who signed with the HEAT on July 7, appeared in four preseason games (one start) with Miami and averaged 3.3 points, 2.3 assists, 2.0 rebounds and 11.9 minutes.

Miami Heat guard Marcus Garrett suffered a fractured scaphoid bone in his right wrist.

He will be casted for four weeks and re-evaluated at that time.

Garrett signed a two-way contract with the Heat on July 16.

Per the Miami Herald, “Garrett, who was named the Naismith National Defensive Player of the Year as a junior at Kansas before going undrafted in 2021, averaged 3.3 points while shooting 6 of 23 (26.1 percent) from the field and missing each of his eight attempts from three-point range in four appearances this preseason. He played 10 minutes in Monday’s preseason win over the Houston Rockets, finishing scoreless but with two rebounds, two assists and one steal.”

The Miami Heat have converted Jamal Cain to a two-way contract, and have signed guard Mychal Mulder.

In addition, the team waived Darius Days.

Cain, who was signed by the HEAT on July 15, has appeared in three preseason games with Miami averaging 12.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.33 steals, 1.7 assists and 23.0 minutes while shooting 53.8 percent from the field and 44.4 percent from three-point range. As a graduate transfer at Oakland, Cain started in all 30 games in which he appeared and averaged 19.9 points, 10.2 rebounds, 1.83 steals and 34.9 minutes while shooting 49.9 percent from the field and 84.1 percent from the line. He was named the Horizon League Co-Player of the Year and was selected to the Horizon All-League and NABC All-District 12 first teams. He earned Conference Player of the Week on four different occasions and was the only Horizon League player to average a double-double. Cain led the team in points, rebounds and field goals made while finishing second in blocks, steals and free throws made.

Mulder, who was previously signed to a two-way contract by the HEAT on March 24, 2022, appeared in two games with Miami last season totaling 14 points, three rebounds, two assists and a block while shooting 40 percent (4-of-10) from the field, 50 percent (4-of-8) from three-point range and a perfect 2-of-2 from the foul line. He also appeared in 13 games (12 starts) with Miami’s G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, last season averaging 16.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 35.1 minutes while shooting 48.4 percent from the field and 42.1 percent from three-point range. Mulder will wear number 15.

Days, who was signed to a two-way contract by the HEAT on July 16, appeared in two games with Miami this preseason totaling two points, four rebounds, an assist and a block. Additionally, Days was signed to a Summer Contract prior to being waived.