Dru

Smith

Smith only appeared in nine games last season before suffering a torn right ACL during a game against the Cavaliers. While there may be moments when he has streaming value, Smith is not a player fantasy managers should plan on drafting.

Herro was initially listed as questionable to play, but now it appears unlikely that he will be able to play. Josh Richardson and Duncan Robinson should help fill the void on the perimeter, though Kyle Lowry is doubtful as well.

The good news for Smith is that the MRI did not show any ligament damage, based on the Heat’s announcement. Unfortunately, he will still miss the remainder of the season. Until Tyler Herro (ankle) returns, the Heat will be light on guards in their rotation. Josh Richardson should see an increase in minutes, and there will be more periods in which Jimmy Butler is asked to initiate the offense.

Smith was injured during Wednesday’s win over the Cavaliers, and the severity of his injury remains unknown. The Heat will know more after Friday’s MRI. An extended absence for Smith would leave the Heat light on bodies at point guard, with Josh Richardson likely having the most to gain from a usage standpoint.

Smith’s early exit will leave the Heat without a backup point guard for Kyle Lowry. That will force them to rely on Josh Richardson, Jimmy Butler and Duncan Robinson to take on larger roles as playmakers when Lowry is off the floor.

After playing 32 minutes against the Hawks on Saturday night, Lowry will get the night off. Jimmy Butler is back, so he may just slide into the starting lineup in his place. However, whether he starts or not, Dru Smith should play some extended minutes at point guard. He may be worth streaming for some assists in deeper leagues, but he doesn’t have much upside in other categories.

Herro said postgame that he expected to miss “a couple of weeks”, so his timeline was pretty close to being on the money. In his extended absence, Duncan Robinson, Josh Richardson, Dru Smith and Jaime Jaquez should see some extra minutes, though we’ll have to wait and see who starts to find out who will benefit the most for fantasy hoops.

On the heels of a solid preseason, Smith has been rewarded with a standard contract. While this is unlikely to turn him into a player worth rostering in fantasy leagues, Smith is better positioned to provide additional depth at the point guard position. The first season of the contract is partially guaranteed, with the second year having a July “trigger date.” Smith’s promotion freed up a two-way contract slot, which Cole Swider has filled.

Smith saw an increased role in this game after Josh Richardson’s early exit. That allowed him to play 28 minutes off the bench, and he took full advantage of the opportunity. Smith may spend most of his season in the G-League, and he won’t see many games where he plays this much. However, he showed some promise in an expanded role on Wednesday.

Richardson appears to have aggravated the foot injury that has already forced him to miss time during the preseason. Dru Smith should see some extra minutes at point guard with Kyle Lowry also sidelined.