Mulder and Smart working to keep Heat two-way deals, as others become replacement candidates
Guards Mychal Mulder and Javonte Smart currently hold the Miami Heat’s two two-way contracts, but they still have plenty to prove in summer league.
That’s because Mulder and Smart are working to keep their two-way deals, as the Heat can waive them at any time to open a spot for another player without any consequence other than making them available for other teams to sign away.
In other words, nothing is guaranteed for Mulder and Smart even though they occupy the Heat’s two two-way spots at the moment.
“You’re always looking at how guys may develop into something,” Heat assistant coach and summer league head coach Malik Allen said ahead of Tuesday night’s matchup against the Atlanta Hawks at Thomas & Mack Center as part of Las Vegas Summer League. “But you got to be able to do the little things because in order to play with Bam [Adebayo], Jimmy [Butler] and Kyle [Lowry], you got to be able to contribute in those ways. And those guys are going to hold your feet to the fire if you do get that opportunity. If the opportunity does come in December or January.
“Just ask Omer [Yurtseven] about that. He’s a prime example. Then all of sudden, you start to realize how much that stuff matters. And when you see how much it matters, you start to play better. So the more you grasp that in your mind, the better off you’re going to be with us.”
The little things are what Mulder and Smart are trying to master this summer, as the Heat is again expected to use its two-way contract players as an extension of its 15-man roster this upcoming season just like it did last season with Caleb Martin because of a less than full group.
The Heat could open this upcoming season with 14 players on standard contracts — not counting the two players on two-way deals. Entering the season with 14 players is one shy of the NBA regular-season maximum of 15 players but still acceptable under NBA roster rules, as Miami had gone with 14 players in previous seasons when up against the luxury tax or hard cap.
For Smart, he’s known as a guard who can score points after averaging 21.1 points per game on 41.8 percent shooting from the field and 32 percent shooting on threes in 25 G League games last season. But he’s trying to showcase his playmaking ability in summer league.
“I can make plays for others,” Smart said. “Also, I can get mine but also look for my teammates. Keep being a leader, keep trying to put the guys in the right position to score the ball and just make plays for others.”
Smart, 23, entered Tuesday’s matchup against the Hawks in Las Vegas averaging 11 points while shooting an inefficient 13-of-45 (28.9 percent) from the field and 3-of-18 (16.7 percent) from three-point range through his first three summer league games this year. He has also dished out a total of eight assists to three turnovers.
“The ball is going to be in his hands a lot,” Allen said of Smart, who went undrafted out of LSU last year. “We trust him and he just has to keep growing as a player to make the right play, whether that’s to score or to get others involved. His intention is right. I think we just got to keep working at it, keep building, keep showing film and just keep getting him comfortable in the role that he has been in.”
Mulder’s elite skill is three-point shooting, as he has shot 38.9 percent on 7.2 three-point attempts per game in four G League seasons. To keep his two-way deal with the Heat, he’ll need to continue to make threes and grow other aspects of his game.
After a rough start to summer league that included a 5-of-23 (21.7 percent) three-point shooting display in three games at the California Classic, Mulder opened Las Vegas Summer League by scoring a game-high 23 points on 7-of-13 shooting from the field and 5-of-8 shooting on threes in Saturday’s win over the Boston Celtics.
“Just keep being confident,” Allen said of what he views as the next step for Mulder. “He’s done really good things for us. It’s just the ball hasn’t gone in as much. That’s all. I know he’s a guy who can really shoot it. But I’ve just been happy with him continuing to play and make plays for others and do other things. Those are just other ways to stay involved in the game and he’s stayed the course.”
And as a seasoned veteran compared to his summer league teammates, Mulder is also using this time to work on his leadership skills. Mulder, 28, has played in 84 NBA games, including 12 starts, during his career.
“That was one of the key things that they told me coming in. Be a leader, use your voice, your voice is important to these guys,” said Mulder, who went undrafted out of Kentucky in 2017. “It’s funny being in that middle ground. I’m not really an older guy, but I’m not a rookie anymore either. I’ve got a few years under my belt. When I talk, guys listen and they’re eager to hear what I have to say knowing that they’re coming into a time where learning is important. It’s good to be able to share that experience with them and help them out a little bit.”
All while others on the Heat’s summer league roster like guard Marcus Garrett and center Orlando Robinson begin to separate themselves as candidates to replace Mulder and/or Smart as the team’s two-way contract players.
“Just play hard and have fun,” Smart said of his advice to Heat summer league teammates. “I think playing hard and having fun and enjoying this experience because not too many people get this chance. Everyone that gets this chance is very grateful. I’m grateful for getting this opportunity again. You just got to live it how you want. You got to go at it, keep going hard at it and don’t ever give up.”
