Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Undrafted players got ‘chip on our shoulder’
MIAMI — Even during the abyss that was the Miami Heat’s lost weekend in New York, Erik Spoelstra took consolation that Chris Silva, Duncan Robinson and Kendrick Nunn “got their handshakes.”
He was referring to the three visiting the NBA offices to meet with Commissioner Adam Silver, after being bypassed on their respective draft nights.
For the Heat, nearly half the roster can relate, with the addition of former Tennessee forward Kyle Alexander making it seven undrafted players in the team’s 17-player mix.
To Silva, who went undrafted out of South Carolina last June, there is a common prove-yourself bond that permeates the Heat roster.
“I mean, the chip on our shoulder,” Silva said ahead of Wednesday night’s game against the San Antonio Spurs at AmericanAirlines Arena. “We feel like we’re made for this, we’re built for this.”
Alexander’s story is typical of many of the undrafted players in the Heat mix: contacted by the team in the minutes after the draft, immediately brought to AmericanAirlines Arena for drill work, sent out with the team for three weeks of summer-league play in dual locations, another month of work at AmericanAirlines, time in training camp, and then further scrutiny in the G League.
For Alexander it then meant sending these intervening three months with the G League Sioux Falls Skyforce, who are coached by former Heat video coordinator Eric Glass. Alexander is eligible to spend 24 days with the Heat before the close of the G League regular season in March, as well as the remainder of the NBA season thereafter.
Like the Heat’s other two-way player, Sioux Falls Skyforce 3-point specialist Gabe Vincent, he would not be eligible for the NBA playoffs unless converted to a standard NBA contract.
Silva, who has been converted to a standard NBA deal, now is playoff eligible for the Heat.
The seven undrafted players under contract to the Heat:
Udonis Haslem: Went undrafted out of Florida in 2002, then played a season in France while transforming his physique. Signed as an undrafted free agent with the Heat in August 2003 and has been with the team since, winning NBA championships in 2006, ‘12 and ‘13.
Derrick Jones Jr.: Went undrafted out of UNLV in 2016. Began in the Phoenix Suns’ system before being signed to a two-way contract by the Heat on Dec. 31, 2017. Was then signed to a standard contract by the Heat on July 1, 2018, blossoming in summer league that month.
Duncan Robinson: Went undrafted out of Michigan in 2018, before flourishing during summer league the following month. Started last season on a Heat twoway contract before being converted to a standard deal the final week of the season. Has emerged as a reliable starter.
Kendrick Nunn: Went undrafted out of Oakland University in 2018, before spending last season with the Golden State Warriors’ G League affiliate. Was signed by the Heat the final day of last season, emerging during summer league and has been a starter since the season opener.
Chris Silva: Went undrafted out of South Carolina last June, materialized as a leader of the Heat’s summer roster and was rewarded with a two-way contract. After thriving at the start of this season, was converted to a standard contract Wednesday.
Kyle Alexander: Went undrafted out of Tennessee last June, showing the type of grit during Heat summer league that led to a training-camp invitation. Then prospered with Heat G League affiliate to earn a two-way contract extended Wednesday.
Gabe Vincent: Went undrafted out of UC-Santa Barbara in 2018, then spent most of past two seasons in Sacramento G League system before catching the Heat’s eye with his 3-point shooting, including at last month’s G League Showcase in front of Heat scouts. Signed last week to Heat two-way contract.