The Heat have signed free agent rookie guard Javonte Smart to fill their open two-way player slot, per a team press release.
Third-year combo guard Kyle Guy is Miami’s other two-way player. Former two-way player Caleb Martin was just elevated to the Heat’s main 15-man roster earlier today in order to make him playoff-eligible.
The Smart announcement marks the club’s second new player signing this week. Miami also added wing Haywood Highsmith via a 10-day contract.
After going undrafted out of LSU last summer, Smart played for the Heat during the 2021 NBA Summer League, and subsequently kicked off the 2021/22 preseason with a training camp contract on the Heat. He was ultimately released prior to the start of the year.
Smart later linked up with the Heat’s NBAGL affiliate club, the Sioux Falls Skyforce. Across 12 regular season contests with the Skyforce (including tonight), Smart is averaging 23.4 PPG, 4.9 RPG, and 3.7 APG. He is connecting on 43.4% of his field goal looks, including 34.7% of his long-range attempts. Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald writes that Smart scored 40 points while shooting 11-of-18 from the floor tonight in a victory against the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.
The 6’4″ 22-year-old had a brief stint this season with the Bucks as a two-way player, suiting up for 13 contests with the reigning champs before being waived last month. In 12.3 MPG, Smart averaged 2.4 PPG and 1.5 RPG for Milwaukee.
Could have used him tonight, without Herro, and multiple guys having terrible shooting nights in the 2nd half. He had 40 tonight for the skyforce in a comeback win, and has been on fire since coming back. Curious to see if Guy keeps his spot now. Not sure this fully takes them out of the Dragic situation b/c he cant play in the playoffs anyway, but I feel like a lot is looking like Dragic wont be back just yet
As a side note, Victor Oladipo is going over to the skyforce for 5 on 5 practices, and it looks like he should be back really soon. Perhaps as soon as after the all star break/end of the month? That could also potentially have some impact on Dragic
Also, are the numbers in the article for Smart in the G-league just since he came back? I’m pretty sure he has played a few more games in total
The G League stats are a little confusing this year, but the ones listed for Smart above are just “regular season” stats (ie. since the start of January). He played in a few more games for the Skyforce during the tournament in the fall.
Smart move