ASK IRA: Does Dru Smith having better Heat contract than Jamal Cain make sense?
Did Miami Heat err with Jamal Cain-Dru Smith decision when it came to awarding a standard contract?
Q: Agreed on Jamal Cain being worthy of a standard contract over Dru Smith, but I still don’t understand the process. At risk of losing Cain and instead signing Dru Smith does Smith have to clear waivers first before getting a standard contract? Because if not, then Cain should have gotten a contract. – Rodney.
A: No waivers for Dru Smith from his two-way deal. That shift to a standard deal does not involve other teams being able to step in. As for the Smith deal, considering the $425,000 guarantee, it makes it even more puzzling. The Heat often speak of being a meritocracy. The only way it could have been a meritocracy is if Dru Smith significantly outplayed Jamal Cain during practice. Because in the preseason, Cain was the better player – by far. Or perhaps it’s all about insurance at point guard, which leads us to . . .
Q: We need a real starting point guard. Not a shooting guard who could maybe do it. Not a random two-way player. – Chadwick, Lake Worth.
A: The concern here is not as much with Kyle Lowry, who seems motivated and in shape. He certainly can carry his minutes with the starting unit, albeit with concerns about that unit’s defensive efficiency if it also includes Kevin Love and Tyler Herro. But at 37, and having missed extension time last season, Lowry is not an every-day guarantee. And, yes, Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, Caleb Martin and Herro can handle, but once that becomes their primary responsibility then it diminishes the ability to thrive in the areas where they can best thrive. Position-less is all well and good at most spots on the floor. But point guard, as with quarterback in football, is an innate position. And such an innate backup appears to again be lacking for the Heat, with all due respect to Josh Richardson. As for Dru Smith, I would consider that insurance more than anything.
Q: The Amazing Swider Man, let it begin! – Theo.
A: But let’s also not overstate Cole Swider’s role on his two-way contract. Not only are such players limited to 50 appearances, but if the Heat remain with 14 players under standard contract, then all three two-way players cannot be active for more than a combined 90 games. It is possible therefore that Cole is inactive on opening night, for that very reason, to preserve the game nights for the Heat’s two-way players.