Heat point guard Dru Smith to miss time with calf injury sustained during camp: ‘It’s frustrating’

Miami Heat admin October 2, 2026 0 Comments

Heat point guard Dru Smith to miss time with calf injury sustained during camp: ‘It’s frustrating’

BOCA RATON

Miami Heat guard Dru Smith has dealt with a few major injuries in recent years. The belief is Smith’s latest setback is a minor one.

Smith sustained a right calf strain late in practice Wednesday and is expected to miss a couple of weeks, putting his availability for the start of the regular season in question. The Heat opens the regular season in three weeks against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Oct. 21 at Kaseya Center.

“This is a minor thing,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said following Thursday’s practice at Florida Atlantic University, with the Heat set to begin the preseason on Saturday against the Toronto Raptors in Quebec City, Canada. “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.”

Smith’s injury history includes a torn left Achilles that forced him to miss most of the 2024-25 season and a torn ACL that cut his 2023-24 season short.

Smith was able to stay relatively healthy last season, earning consistent playing time because of his pesky perimeter defense and steady offensive game in a backup point guard role.

Smith, 28, averaged 5.6 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.4 steals in 16.3 minutes per game while shooting 41.5% from the field and 29.5% shooting on threes in 70 games (one start) last regular season. Among players around the NBA who appeared in at least 50 games last regular season, Smith led the league in steals per 36 minutes.

“Obviously I’ve gotten a lot worse news over the years,” Smith said Thursday when asked about his calf strain. “So, a couple of weeks, something like that, it’s not the worst thing. The timing is terrible, obviously, very frustrating. But it is what it is.”

Smith was projected to begin this season as the Heat’s backup point guard behind starter Davion Mitchell.

But with Smith now sidelined, Heat rookie guards Tre Donaldson and Ryan Conwell will have an opportunity to play a bigger role in practices and in games this preseason. In addition, Heat third-year guard Pelle Larsson has been working on becoming a better ball-handler in case he’s asked to play as a point guard.

“They’re going after it right now,” Spoelstra said of the Heat’s point guards behind Mitchell and Smith. “So they’re in that stage right now where they’re making us watch. And that’s Ryan, and that’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 [Adebayo] and Giannis [Antetokounmpo], even Niko [Jovic]. But really 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.”

Donaldson, who went undrafted this year out of the University of Miami, has been especially impressive in training camp this week. Donaldson is one of three players who the Heat has signed to a two-way contract, which allow for players to be on their NBA team’s active list for as many as 50 regular-season games with other game action.

“He’s 22 years old. He played four years of college. He’s come in very seasoned,” Spoelstra said of Donaldson, with the Heat set to wrap up training camp at FAU on Friday. “His game that he’s played in college, particularly his last year at Miami, is what he’s showing right now. He organizes a group. He’s very confident in his abilities to put the ball on the floor and make a play. He’s improved his shooting. And defensively, he just has a toughness to him.”

The Heat also plans to bring in veteran guard Dennis Smith Jr. on an Exhibit 10 contract later this preseason. Smith, who has played mostly as a point guard during his career, has 326 NBA appearances under his belt.

A familiar face in former Heat guard Gabe Vincent also remains a free agent. But the Heat has not shown much interest in adding Vincent up to this point, according to league sources.

“It’s frustrating, but it could have been a lot worse,” Smith said of his calf injury. “So, it is what it is. I’ll be all right.”