Founding father of Heat development system explains why program keeps churning out players
Besides assuming the unofficial title of Mr. 305, Udonis Haslem remains the longest tenured, and most accomplished, product of the Heat’s ballyhooed developmental program, a Founding Father for a flourishing factory that has transformed overlooked, undrafted players into productive NBA rotation pieces.
So nobody in the organization might reap more joy from the fact that nearly all of the Heat’s undrafted developmental players have been rousing successes this season, several exceeding any reasonable expectations.
“I spend more time with the undrafted guys more than anybody,” Haslem said. “I have more compassion for those guys. I relate to those guys more. I understand the short leash we’re on. I understand the impact we have to have in a short amount of time. And I understand we don’t really have the time to make mistakes.”
So whether it’s subjecting Omer Yurtseven to grueling rebounding drills that leave him bruised -- or offering sage advice and encouragement to Gabe Vincent, Max Strus, Duncan Robinson and Caleb Martin -- Haslem has made a point to push all of them.
“Those undrafted guys come here - Max, Gabe, Caleb, Duncan, Omer, Chris Silva - when those guys come in here, it’s an automatic expectation from me to do more than the guys that got drafted, do more than the guys that got signed, work harder, push more, pay attention to detail more,” he said. “And nobody complains here. That’s one thing about these young guys; they don’t complain.”
The sage scouting eye of Adam Simon and Chet Kammerer and others in the Heat’s personnel department -- coupled with the coaching of Erik Spoelstra and his staff, Haslem’s leadership and the drive of the players -- have all played a vital role in the Heat churning out four new developmental success stories in the five months.
Yurtseven, in particular, has spoken of the value of Haslem’s individual rebounding drills with him.
But this, too, also has become clear: Spoelstra has made some very good decisions replacing valued assistants Juwan Howard (who left in 2019 to become coach at Michigan), Dan Craig (who joined the Los Angeles Clippers’ staff two years ago) and David Fizdale (who left in 2016 to become the Memphis Grizzlies coach and now is an assistant for the Lakers).
Chris Quinn, Malik Allen, Caron Butler, Anthony Carter and Eric Glass all have served key roles in the development of Robinson, Strus, Vincent, Martin and Yurtseven.
Spoelstra “has done a good job of doing his homework and bringing in the right people who are willing to do the work,” Haslem said. “His staff does the best job in the world. Before they even get to the point of developing guys, developing a trust factor and relationships with guys is so important. Once you develop that, you can get guys to work.
“The hardest part of this job is getting guys to trust you. It’s hard to get somebody to hold somebody accountable if they don’t trust you. When guys come here, they trust we have their best interests at heart and want to make them the best versions of themselves. And once they understand that, they’re all in about putting in the work to get it done.”
Haslem offered insight on why this staff has thrived despite losing three key members in recent years.
He said Allen “carries a lot of the same characteristics I carry. Very relatable to the guys, lot of basketball knowledge. He’s been on different benches and knows how people will approach us, as opposed to being in one organization for a long time, as a lot of us have been. Now you bring another set of eyes and ears from a different organization.”
He said Butler - added in November 2020 after Craig left - “has a world of knowledge, whether it’s the basketball court, business or life. And he keeps all of us even. He has an even demeanor. I can get a little bit crazy. Spo can get a little bit crazy. We’re alphas. Caron keeps everyone even and calm and we need that balance.”
And Haslem said Quinn’s “voice resonates just as much as Spo’s voice. When you listen to Quinny, you’re hearing Spo. It’s the same message. If anybody has an opportunity to step into the next level sooner than later, it would be Quinny. He has the knowledge, the experience, the relationship with the players. He has every base covered when you talk about checking the boxes to have the ability to be a successful head coach.”
So what could this year’s success stories become? Haslem has some thoughts:
▪ On Yurtseven: “The sky is the limit. You’re talking about a 7-footer who chases rebounds with a motor like a guy my size [6-8]. That’s very rare. He has hand eye coordination. He picked up [the system] really quick. If we go to a rotation at some point next year with him and Bam [Adebayo] on the court, …when you have a 7-footer that chases rebounds and has a motor and can shoot the ball, you have something to work with.”
Does Yurtseven have the range to play with Adebayo? “Yeah, he can shoot the three,” Haslem said. “You’ve got to keep working on it. [Chris] Bosh wasn’t such a great three-point shooter when he first got here and he put the work in and you see the results.”
▪ On Strus: “He has the ability to be a starter in this league, to come off the bench. The thing about the NBA now is you don’t have to be a starter to be one of the best players on the team.”
▪ On Vincent: “I love the way he competes more than anything. Defense, scrappy, works hard, gets us into offense. He’s smart. And he listens.”
▪ On Martin: “Caleb can go everything. When he steps on the floor, I tell him ‘one through five’ – meaning he can play all positions. “I tell him do it all, have enough heart for everybody, bring that energy.”
This June will mark 20 years since Haslem went undrafted out of Florida, was cut by the Hawks and needed to find a team in France willing to take a chance on a 300-pound developmental project.
He lost 40 pounds over the coming months, signed with the Heat in August 2003, and now stands not only as the standard bearer for Heat culture, but also something of a steward for a developmental program that keeps topping its own high standards.
So this season’s growth by Yurtseven, Martin, Strus and Vincent is heartening.
“I’m a guy that’s standing on the outside leading,” Haslem said. “Those guys do the work. With me leading, and them doing the work, it’s no surprise it’s successful.”
This story was originally published March 20, 2022 at 12:33 PM.
