After waiving Zyon Pullin and adding Josh Christopher to a two-way contract, the Miami Heat still have some decisions to make at the end of the roster.
The Heat now have Christopher, Keshad Johnson and Dru Smith occupying their three two-way spots. Christopher and Johnson appear to be safe in their spots for now, but Smith’s position is more precarious.
The Miami Heat have made decisions on two of their two-way contracts. Who is in the running to take the third?
Smith hasn’t played since tearing his ACL in a Nov. 22 game in Cleveland. Smith impressed in last year's training camp and at the start of the season before sustaining the season-ending injury, and he was eventually waived to make room to sign Patty Mills in March.
The Heat extended him a two-way offer this summer, but Smith did not participate in Las Vegas Summer League as he’s still rehabbing from his injury. While Miami clearly values Smith, several summer leaguers could push him for the final two-way roster spot.
Isaiah Stevens is a clubhouse favorite after leading summer league in assists, but the Heat are not in a rush to sign him to a two-way because he’s already under contract with an Exhibit 10 deal, which essentially amounts to a training camp invite. Because Stevens is technically under contract, an outside team cannot offer him a deal. So the Heat are not at risk of losing him.
This is not the case when it comes to Cole Swider and Alondes Williams, who are unrestricted free agents after finishing last season on two-way contracts. Swider was among summer league’s best 3-point shooters and Williams guided the Heat’s offense in the championship-winning game against the Memphis Grizzlies.
Like with Smith, the Heat have invested time in Swider and Williams and it could make sense if they decide to bring them back on two-way deals. If Swider and Williams cannot land a standard roster spot elsewhere, they would welcome a return to Miami.
The Heat can’t offer a standard roster spot because signing a 15th player to a veteran minimum would send payroll over the second luxury tax apron, which the organization wants to avoid.
Unlike standard roster spots, two-way contracts can be swapped out at any time because they don’t impact the salary cap or luxury tax.
The Heat don’t necessarily have to make a decision now. They can wait until training camp and get more information on who stands out before finalizing the two-way roster spots ahead of the start of the regular season.
