Former Missouri standout Dru Smith reportedly agreed to a three-year, $7.9 million contract to return to the Miami Heat on Saturday, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.
Smith — who played for the Tigers from 2019-2021 — appeared in just 14 games for the Heat last season before suffering a torn Achilles tendon in the team’s 110-95 home win over the Brooklyn Nets on Dec. 23.
The 6-foot-2 guard was averaging 6.2 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.5 steals per game and shot 50.8% from the field and 53.3% from 3-point range before the season-ending injury.
Prior to the Achilles tear, Smith’s 2023-24 campaign with Miami was cut short after nine games because of a torn ACL in the squad’s 129-96 road rout of the Cleveland Cavaliers on Nov. 22, 2023.
Smith has appeared in 38 games over three seasons in the NBA, featuring stints with the Heat and the Nets, and is averaging 4.5 points, 1.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.1 steals per game.
The Evansville, Indiana, product played 57 games at Mizzou, where he averaged 14.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.1 steals in his redshirt senior campaign.
The Heat tip off their preseason against the Milwaukee Bucks at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 6 in Miami and open their regular season against the Orlando Magic at 6 p.m. Oct. 22 in Orlando, Florida.