Q: Ira, does any other team have a former player on the court during practices? Can Udonis Haslem accept that it’s over? – Eddie.
A: First, yes, many teams have former players on their coaching staff, which often means taking roles during practices, including on the scout team. So a non-player participating in practice hard is unique. What makes Udonis Haslem unique with his jumping into sessions is that he is listed not as a coach but as a team executive. Of course, he also is the rare team executive who also makes a point of taking part in the weight room and putting himself through drills. The bottom line is that Heat find it beneficial to have Udonis sweating it out alongside teammates. If they didn’t, he wouldn’t be out there. Of the non-players on the practice court, Udonis and Wayne Ellington are comfortable fits when it comes to drill work.
Q: The Dru Smith injury tells the Heat what they should have known, they need another point guard. – Michael.
A: Which, of course, has been a theme in this space for years. Still, it was made rather clear that Dru Smith’s calf strain is viewed as minor. That said, the reality is that if the injury would have come during the regular season, it would have left the Heat with Davion Mitchell or bust as the roster’s lone veteran presence at point guard. Yes, as Erik Spoelstra notes, Bam Adebayo and Giannis Antetokounmpo can handle. But do you really want to put more on their plate this early in the process?
Q: Cut the losses and move on already. – Josiah.
A: Let’s also not overreact to a camp injury. Also, Dru Smith was largely healthy last season, and the reality is that at his price point, he very much stands as a value player for a team hard up against their hard cap at the moment and luxury tax in the near future, earning $2.6 million this season with a team option for $2.9 million next season.