Dru Smith Rumors

In the opener, there were 24 minutes in the home loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. In the second game, there were 13 in the home loss to the Detroit Pistons. The following night, only six minutes in the road loss to the Charlotte Hornets. And then none Monday against the Mavericks, when his minutes instead went to point guard Dru Smith. “I’m still trying to find that spot for Niko,” coach Erik Spoelstra said Wednesday morning.” So this is different than last year, because he’s been giving us good minutes. But we felt that we needed a little bit more perimeter based with Dru, to be able to set everybody else in their normal positions. “But I did extend our frontcourt big minutes the other night, so Niko is still fully in the mix. I just have to figure it out.”

South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Eric Nehm: The Miami Heat injury report for Wednesday’s season opener vs. Minnesota: Questionable: Vladislav Goldin (right ankle sprain) Available: Myron Gardner (right ankle sprain) Dru Smith (right calf strain) Pelle Larsson (illness) will not be listed on the injury report.

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Anthony Chiang: Along with missing Bam Adebayo, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Dru Smith, the newly signed Ezra Ausar will also not be available for the Heat tonight.

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Eric Nehm: The Heat say Bam Adebayo (groin) and Dru Smith (calf) will not be traveling with the team to Orlando for tomorrow's preseason finale against the Magic.

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Anthony Chiang: Bam Adebayo (groin) and Dru Smith (calf) aren’t traveling to Orlando for tomorrow’s preseason finale against the Magic. Rest of roster is, including Giannis.

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Ira Winderman: Dru Smith and Keshad Johnson remain out due to injuries. Spoelstra should (or perhaps not) have update on who is in or out tonight in exhibition vs. visiting Timberwolves.

Twitter

Anthony Chiang: Pelle Larsson and Andrew Wiggins, who are both sick, will not play in tonight's scrimmage. Keshad Johnson and Dru Smith also remain out with their respective injuries.

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Anthony Chiang: Only two Heat players out tonight are Dru Smith and Keshad Johnson.

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Zachary Weinberger: Spoke to Dru Smith, told me the calf injury was sustained. #Heat “I went on a back cut, I just took a really big negative step. Never, never good to be in that position. So, my calf just tweaked a little bit. Luckily, we got pretty good news…shouldn't be nothing too crazy…”

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Zachary Weinberger: “Obviously, I've gotten a lot worse news over the years, so a couple weeks, something like that. It's not the worst thing. Timing is terrible, obviously, very frustrating, but it is what it is…” - Dru Smith on the calf injury #Heat

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Ira Winderman: Dru Smith now out "a couple of weeks" for Heat with a strained right calf, further compromising depth at point guard.

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Though veteran guard Gabe Vincent would welcome a Heat reunion, the Heat hasn’t made an offer to him. A strong case could be made for extending him a nonguaranteed deal to compete with Dru Smith in training camp, but Miami hasn’t presented that option. (That would not preclude Miami from signing another player to a 15th standard contract.)

Miami Herald

NBA Trade Machine: Kyrie Irving was involved in 3.6% of all trades built on HoopsMatic over the past 24 hours. Of those, his top destinations were Miami (24.1%), Boston (14.8%), and Orlando (13.0%). Players traded for him most often: Davion Mitchell (16.7%), Dru Smith (16.7%), and Nikola Jovic (14.8%).

HoopsMatic

Vincent would have welcomed a Heat return and has support internally, including from Bam Adebayo. The front office appreciates his maturity, toughness, grit and intelligence, among other attributes, but isn’t looking for another 6-2 point guard at this point after guaranteeing next season’s $2.6 million salary for 6-2 Dru Smith.

Miami Herald