McGruder talks ‘surprising’ departure. And Rivers explains why Heat is ‘fun to watch’
Rodney McGruder will admit it. The 28-year-old guard wasn’t expecting the Heat to release him with just days remaining in the 2018-19 regular season.
“It was surprising,” McGruder said Friday morning just hours before playing his first game at AmericanAirlines Arena since he was waived by the Heat. “But it was what it was.”
The move actually worked out for both sides.
By releasing McGruder, the Heat avoided paying a luxury tax and opened a roster spot to sign undrafted guard Kendrick Nunn on the final day of the 2018-19 regular season. For McGruder, the Clippers ended up claiming him just days later and then signed him to a three-year, $15 million contract this past summer.
“I’m still here in this league. So, it’s a blessing for sure,” McGruder said. “The team that picked me up is the team that re-signed me in the summer, so everything happened the way it was supposed to do.”
As part of a talented Clippers roster that also features the All-Star duo of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, McGruder entered Friday’s matchup against the Heat averaging 3.7 points and three rebounds in 17.4 minutes over 33 games in a bench role this season.
“This is not the Patriots,” Clippers coach Doc Rivers said with a grin when asked if McGruder’s experience with the Heat can help Los Angeles prepare for Miami. “We’re not bringing guys in to download them and then release them. We actually were trying to get Rodney last year. We wanted him. Then we found out that they were going to release him. Obviously, we assumed somebody would pick him up. I was surprised that he did clear waivers.”
McGruder’s underdog story is one that has become fairly common within the Heat organization.
Undrafted out of Kansas State in 2013, McGruder helped lead the Heat’s G League affiliate to a championship in 2015-16 before earning an NBA contract with the Heat after impressing Miami during summer league play in 2016. He appeared in 162 games for the Heat over three seasons, with 112 starts, and averaged 6.7 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists.
What will it feel like for McGruder to play on the visiting team at AmericanAirlines arena for the first time?
“All of the above. It’s nice, it’s weird,” said McGruder, who added that he’s still friends with many of his former Heat teammates. “The way we come in, coming to sit on this side of the bench. It is weird, but I’m excited. I’m excited to play against this group of guys and the organization that gave me my first opportunity.”
HEAT TALK
Include Rivers on the long list of people around the NBA who did not expect the Heat to own a 31-13 record after the first 44 games of the season.
“I think Erik [Spoelstra] has done an incredible job,” Rivers said in advance of Friday’s game. “They’re fun to watch, No. 1. Forget that they’re good. From just a pure basketball coaching perspective, you love watching them play. They play together, they play hard, they move the ball, they’re unselfish. Every guy knows what they should be doing out on the floor. They’ve thought outside the box. Bam [Adebayo] bringing the ball up at times. It’s a testament to all of them. To their organization, to Erik. He has done an amazing job.”
But McGruder said he’s not surprised by the Heat’s success because he knows the potential of those working inside the organization.
“I know the things that coach Spo is capable of and the core group of guys that they kept are capable of,” McGruder said. “I’m excited to see the guys playing well. Anybody you played with, you want to see them succeed and do well.”
▪The Heat played without guards Goran Dragic (left calf soreness) and Kendrick Nunn (left Achilles soreness) in Friday’s game against the Clippers. Spoelstra classified Dragic and Nunn as “day-to-day.”
Jimmy Butler (right knee soreness) was available, though.
In addition, forward Justise Winslow remains out for at least another week because of a lower back bone bruise. Rookie forwards KZ Okpala and Chris Silva were also unavailable, with both currently playing in the G League.
The Clippers played without George (hamstring strain) and Patrick Beverley (sore groin) Friday.
This story was originally published January 24, 2020 at 1:13 PM.
