Dru Smith has signed a three-year, $7.9 million deal to stay with the Miami Heat after appearing in just 38 games over three seasons while overcoming consecutive season-ending injuries.
Dru Smith will remain with the Miami Heat on a three-year deal, according to Shams Charania of ESPN. The contract is worth $7.9 million, per Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.
Smith, 27, has steadily developed within the Heat organization despite facing significant setbacks, including season-ending ACL and Achilles injuries in each of the past two years.
Last season, he seemed on track to earn a standard NBA contract after a strong start, but an Achilles tear in December sidelined him.
Despite remaining inactive, the team kept him on a two-way contract for the remainder of the season.
Heat officials and medical staff are optimistic that Smith will be fully recovered in time for the season opener on October 22 or shortly thereafter.
In 14 games last season, Smith averaged 6.2 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.5 steals in 19.1 minutes per game.
Credit Getty Images
Smith began his NBA career with Miami in 2022 on a two-way contract before briefly joining Brooklyn later that season under a similar deal.
He returned to the Heat in the summer of 2023 and was upgraded to a regular contract, only for his season to be cut short by a third-degree ACL sprain in November.
Over three years in the league, Smith has appeared in just 38 games (two starts), averaging 4.5 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game, shooting 46.0% from the field and 42.4% from three-point range.
Like what we are doing? Support us by becoming BN+ member.