McGruder lets his hair down about offseason program

HOLLYWOOD — It was a look Heat guard Rodney McGruder never showed during the regular season.

The normally shaven and close-cut McGruder was sporting a full head of hair and scraggly goatee while making an appearance at Tuesday’s Heat youth basketball camp at South Broward High School. The reason for change was, McGruder is in complete work mode.

Grooming can wait until after he’s accomplished his offseason goals.

“That’s summer style,” McGruder said. “When you’re just working, you’re not really caring about your appearance. I’m just having fun with it. Nothing serious.”

McGruder insists he won’t get a haircut until the team’s media day in late September. In the interim, he plans on spending the summer working on becoming a better shooter.

“Really be a consistent knock-down shooter,” McGruder said. “Knock-down, like don’t miss. That’s what my main goal is. I’ve been working with the guys and just trying to get better.”

McGruder arrives at the Heat practice facility early as 8 a.m. for workouts that sometimes last five hours. Hard work is nothing new for McGruder. After going undrafted in 2013, he bounced around the DLeague before earning a roster spot in Miami last season.

McGruder eventually worked his way into the rotation and started 65 games. After averaging 6.4 points and 1.6 assists, he is likely to earn a spot on one of the All-Rookie teams when they are announced later this month.

With improving his jumpshot the next goal, McGruder has sought the advice of teammate Wayne Ellington. Their lockers are next to each other, making it easy for McGruder to pick the brain of one of the league’s best shooters.

“We talk. I ask him questions and what he does,” McGruder said. “I look at his film and look at my shots and see how I can do better. He is one of the best shooters in the league. That’s somebody that you can learn from.”

McGruder is also working closely with Heat shooting coach Rob Fodor. The sessions are geared toward mechanics, focusing on improving his ability to catch and shoot. Last year Fodor did wonders for guard Goran Dragic, who adjusted his form and shot 40 percent from the 3-point line.

Winslow improving

McGruder has mostly worked out with Justise Winslow, Tyler Johnson, James Johnson, Okaro White and Josh Richardson. He said Winslow is already showing signs of recovery from shoulder surgery that caused him to miss the second half of the season.

“He looks good,” McGruder said of Winslow. “I was watching him today and I was likeW,` atch out.’ You’re going to see. I don’t want to give away all his secrets. Justise looks really good. That’s all I’m going to say. I’ll let you all talk to him about that.”’

No summer league

After latching on with the Heat’s summer league team a year ago, McGruder said he will not participate in the Orlando or Las Vegas summer leagues next month.

McGruder