NBA: Heat bring back Dru Smith, who tore ACL last season, on 2-way deal

FILE–Dru Smith #9 of the Miami Heat jumps for a layup over Oshae Brissett #12 of the Boston Celtics during the first quarter at TD Garden on October 27, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. Maddie Schroeder/Getty Images/AFP

MIAMI — Dru Smith is back with the Miami Heat, with the injured guard agreeing Monday to a two-way contract in a sign that he’s on his way back to the court.

Smith was hurt and saw his 2023-24 NBA season end when the Heat visited Cleveland back in November, tearing his right ACL when he slipped off a raised portion of the floor in front of the Cavaliers’ bench.

He had been part of Miami’s rotation to that point, appearing in nine of the team’s first 15 games.

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The Heat waived him in March to make room for the signing of veteran guard Patty Mills, though when Miami made that move coach Erik Spoelstra made clear that the team wasn’t giving up on him and indicated that the team would continue to assist him with his rehab process.

The 26-year-old Smith averaged 4.3 points for the Heat this past season. He has appeared in 24 NBA games — 14 with Miami and 10 others with Brooklyn — over the last two seasons.

The Heat have not released a timetable for when Smith could return to game action.