BOCA RATON — Monday, amid the optimism of the Miami Heat’s media day, Dru Smith was all smiles when addressing his first injury/surgery-free offseason in years. The fifth-year point guard was poised to seize the opportunity for an increased role.
Thursday, it turned out to be more of the same, with the Heat announcing the 28-year-old veteran would miss multiple weeks with a strained right calf.
Poised to play as the primary reserve to Davion Mitchell, Smith again finds himself in a waiting game.
“I’s not as serious as before,” said Smith, who already has endured devastating Achilles and knee injuries during his Heat tenures. “Yeah, I mean, obviously, I’ve gotten a lot worse news over the years. So, you know, a couple weeks, something like that, it’s not the worst thing.
“The timing is terrible, obviously.”
For now, it means missing Friday’s conclusion of training camp at Florida Atlantic University and most, if not all, of the Heat’s five-game exhibition schedule that opens Saturday in Quebec City against the Toronto Raptors.
“It was later in practice (Wednesday),” Smith said of the injury. “I just went to take off on a back cut, and just took a really big negative step, which, you know, never is really ideal to be in that position.”
For now, it leaves the Heat in a somewhat tight position at point guard. Beyond Mitchell, the options at the moment are two-way player Tre Donaldson and second-round pick Ryan Conwell, with third-year Pelle Larsson also an option at the position. Each of those options has played mostly as a scoring guard.
Additional depth at point guard is expected within a week or two, when the Heat bring in veteran point guard Dennis Smith Jr. on a camp tryout and then cycle through other Exhibit 10 tryout options.
For now, it does not appear that other outside veteran options will be considered, with former Heat point guard Gabe Vincent among those still available in free agency. Another option, D’Angelo Russell, this week signed to play in China after being waived last week by the Memphis Grizzlies.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said the work Dru Smith was able to put in during the offseason should ease the recovery reacclimation from this latest setback.
“This is a minor thing,” Spoelstra said. “So I understand because of his injury history that this would come to the forefront, but it’s a minor deal. We’ll be able to take care of it. He’ll be just fine.
“He’s also put in all the player development this summer, which has really helped him. He hasn’t been able to do that really in several years. He’ll be OK.”
With Smith out, Spoelstra said it should mean additional opportunity for Donaldson and Conwell, among others. He also stressed the ballhandling versatility of big men Bam Adebayo, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jovic.
“They’re going after it right now,” Spoelstra said of his neophyte options at point guard. “And so they’re in that stage right now where they’re making us watch, and that’s Ryan and it’s also Tre. Pelle has been doing a little bit of ball handling, as well.
“And our bigs are very unique, the ability to enter offense with Bam and Giannis, even Niko. The first two guys, those guys do it so easily and seamlessly, they’ve done it over the course of their careers. That versatility will allow us to do that if we need it and we will use it, regardless.”
For Smith, it’s back to the rehab regimen, more than familiar with the process and the expectations.
“Like I said, it’s frustrating, but could have been a lot worse,” he said. “It is what it is. I’ll be alright.”
Still willing to mentor, as he again awaits his turn.
“I think people will probably maybe be a little bit surprised,” he said of the current Heat depth at the position. “I think the young guys have looked really good these last few days, with Tre and Ryan. I think they’re doing a great job of competing at a high level, and also continuing to learn all at the same time.”