AUGUST 11: The Heat have officially signed Swider, the team tweets.
AUGUST 6: The Heat have reached an agreement with free agent forward Cole Swider, per Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link). Swider’s contract will be an Exhibit 10 training camp deal, per Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald (Twitter link).
Swider went undrafted out of Syracuse in 2022, but latched on with the Lakers for the 2022/23 season on a two-way deal.
The 24-year-old suited up for just seven games during his rookie season with Los Angeles, averaging just 5.9 MPG. Across 27 bouts with the Lakers’ G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers, Swider averaged 17.1 PPG on .506/.436/.838 shooting, along with 4.8 RPG, 1.8 APG and 0.8 SPG.
Miami has 12 players currently signed to guaranteed deals on their current 15-man standard roster, plus center Orlando Robinson inked to a non-guaranteed contract.
Very interesting. This brings into question Jaquez or Jovic on the roster, in my opinion, which could mean 1 or both could be traded…
Swider isnt nearly the defender that Strus is, and cant play the 2 or 3, but he can space the floor at the 4 for them, which could be extremely useful
Swider is obviously more polished than Peterson, though Peterson is a way better defender, and can play multiple positions, and is useful as a playmaker. I still would hope to somehow hold onto all of Cain, Peterspn, and Audige, as well as Dru Smith, but this does make that a little more of a competition, and more interesting, and could also be an indicator of potential trade intentions, which I still hope doesnt happen
This all may have been easier to accommodate, if they didnt waste a roster spot on Thomas Bryant. Again, nothing against him, but they only need the extra big if someone gets hurt, namely Kevin Love, and even then, that’s why they kept Orlando Robinson as their cheap offensive big option to replace Yurtseven.
He’s abominable on defense , could probably win the 3 pt contest tho If given entrance to the event
Too small to play the 4 ( he loses his player on box outs all the time ) and wayyyyy to slow to even fathom taking 3 s –
The unfortunate personification of a tweener without the athleticism to make up for it , dude can friggin stroke tho like no other