Miami bolsters its backcourt depth by signing Dennis Smith Jr., offering the former lottery pick a chance to revitalize his career under Erik Spoelstra’s renowned developmental system.
The Miami Heat have had a very prolific offseason, adding multiple big-name players such as Giannis Antetokounmpo and Klay Thompson. Even with these veterans coming in, there are some under-the-radar moves the team has been making to add depth to the roster. Last week, the Heat, through their G-League affiliate, added former first-round pick Mo Bamba to fight for a roster spot. Earlier this week, the Heat made another move, adding young guard Bez Mbeng. The Heat also one of their final moves of the offseason by signing Ian Schieffelin to a non-guaranteed Exhibit 10 contract on Friday afternoon.
While it seemed the Heat were basically wrapped up with their offseason before training camp starts on Tuesday, Miami made one more move on Sunday afternoon. The Heat added guard Dennis Smith Jr. to the roster. With the current outlook of the roster, this contract may very well be a non-guaranteed standard deal. The Heat used up all training camp invites already but someone could have been waived. However, there has not been an announcement on a corresponding move.
Smith, 28, has had an up-and-down NBA career. The guard was one of the best prospects in the nation as a five-star recruit out of high school and joined the NC State Wolfpack for his lone collegiate season from 2016-17. The team wasn't good, finishing 15-17, but Smith was the big bright spot and it resulted in him being selected by the Dallas Mavericks with the No. 9 pick in the 2017 draft.
With Dallas, Smith was a solid young player, earning a spot on the NBA All-Rookie Second Team despite being inefficient as a scorer. He was then dealt to the New York Knicks in 2019 as part of the blockbuster Kristaps Porzingis deal where things really took a turn for the worse. Outside of the 30 games he played immediately after joining the team, he quickly became a non-factor and was sent to their G-League affiliate in 2021 before being waived.
He started to become a journeyman as the guard has played for multiple teams over the last few seasons, even taking his talents overseas to play for Real Madrid of the Spanish Liga ACB and the EuroLeague in 2025. Earlier this season, he was acquired by the Heat's G-League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, and seemingly showed enough talent for the team to take a chance on him this offseason. He showed flashes of brilliance in the past and maybe Erik Spoelstra feels there is a second act to his career.
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