The Miami Heat are signing guard Dru Smith to a multiyear standard NBA contract, and are converting wing shooter Cole Swider to a two-way deal, per Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Miami later confirmed the moves in a press release.
Smith, 24, 6-foot-3, went undrafted out of Missouri in 2021, yet signed a two-way deal with the Heat last season, after starting his career with the Sioux Falls Skyforce, Miami’s G League affiliate. During the 2022-23 season, Smith played in 22 G League games for three different teams, while averaging 15.5 points (48.6% FG, 38.6% 3P), 5.4 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals in 32.2 minutes per game.
After appearing in five NBA games for the Heat in the 2022-23 season, Smith was waived by the team. The guard also appeared in 10 games with the Spurs, while his rookie season averages totaled 2.9 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 10.6 minutes per contest across both teams.
With this signing, 6-foot-9 forward, Swider, is now on a two-way deal and will presumably spend most of the season with the Sioux Falls Skyforce. Last season while playing for the South Bay Lakers, the 24-year-old sharpshooter appeared in 27 G League games, averaging 17.1 points (50.6% FG, 43.6% 3P), 4.8 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in 28.7 minutes per game.
During the NBA preseason, Smith averaged 6.5 points, 5.3 assists, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.8 steals. While Swider averaged 11.2 points, 2 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in the preseason.
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