The Miami Heat’s backup point guard spot is turning into one of the more intriguing fights in camp, and it all starts with the same obvious name at the top of the depth chart: Davion Mitchell.
Mitchell is the starter, and that part isn’t really in dispute. The real question is who Erik Spoelstra wants to lean on when Mitchell comes out. That answer looked a lot cleaner before Dru Smith was sidelined by a calf injury that has kept him out of the entire preseason.
Smith would have seemed like the early favorite. He has NBA experience, knows Spoelstra’s system and has built trust in the building because of what he brings defensively. But with Smith unavailable, two rookies have stepped into the conversation and made it interesting: Ryan Conwell and undrafted guard Tre Donaldson.
At the moment, Donaldson feels like the cleaner fit for the job. He has looked comfortable steering the offense, and that matters for a team that already has Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo handling the ball so often.
Miami doesn’t need another bench guard whose main job is to pound the dribble. It needs someone who can get the group into its sets, make the right reads and keep the offense organized while Mitchell rests.
That’s where Donaldson has stood out. He looks like a natural point guard, with patience and control that are hard to miss.
There’s still the obvious caution that comes with relying on an undrafted rookie, and he’s on a two-way deal, so he wouldn’t be the full-time answer unless Miami converted him to a standard contract. Still, if he keeps playing this way, Spoelstra has every reason to give him a real chance.
Conwell, though, has been the rookie who maybe raises the ceiling the most. Miami drafted him for his shooting and long-term upside, but he’s already shown more with the ball than many expected this early.
The game against the Minnesota Timberwolves was the best example: 22 points off the bench, nine assists, zero turnovers and five rebounds in a 1-point loss. He did 13 of his 22 in the fourth quarter, which only added to how impressive the night was.
What jumps out with Conwell is that he isn’t just spotting up and waiting his turn. He’s handling the ball well, making plays for others and showing signs that he can run an offense.
That said, there’s still a difference between flashing that ability in preseason and doing it consistently once the games count. He may start the season playing more off the ball, but the more comfortable he gets in Spoelstra’s system, the more chances he should get to initiate things.
And then there’s Smith, who can’t be forgotten just because he’s been out. When healthy, Spoelstra has trusted him.
Smith may not bring Conwell’s offensive upside or Donaldson’s floor-general feel, but he is a strong defensive guard who does the kind of dirty work coaches love. He’s physical, he pressures ball handlers and he handles the little things that don’t always show up in the box score.
That’s why this becomes such a tough call. Smith has the coach’s trust.
Donaldson has the steadiness Miami needs right now. Conwell has the kind of offensive promise that could make him the long-term answer.
For now, though, the best fit behind Mitchell looks like Donaldson if the season began today. He seems ready to come in, settle things down and keep the offense from falling apart.
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Heat Trade Deadline Debate Just Got More Interesting
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