With the Miami Heat adding more proven bodies around the roster, rookie Ryan Conwell suddenly looks like a player who may need patience as much as minutes.
Conwell, the No. 37 pick in this year’s draft, comes into the league after a strong year at Louisville. In 34 games, all starts, he put up 18.8 points on 40.8 percent shooting, along with 4.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.1 steals. That production earned him All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors.
The Heat made sure he got a standard deal, too. Represented by Richard Beda and David Mondress of WME Basketball, Conwell landed a three-year, $6.35 million rookie contract instead of a two-way. He is on the active roster, but the path to real playing time looks crowded.
Klay Thompson is officially in the mix, Tim Hardaway Jr. is already ahead of him, and Myron Gardner sits in front as well. With that kind of veteran traffic in the way, Conwell may spend more time on the far end of the bench than on the floor early on.
That is where Sioux Falls comes in. The Heat’s G League affiliate could give Conwell the kind of run he is unlikely to get in Miami right away.
It would also let him sharpen his game without the pressure that comes with a team chasing bigger things. Miami’s championship goals are clearly higher now, and Conwell’s development probably won’t be the main focus.
He has already gotten some reps this summer, taking part in both the California Classic and Las Vegas Summer League. And the profile is intriguing: Conwell is a dependable scorer who can also create problems in passing lanes.
The timing matters, too, because Miami gave up four younger players, including All-Star guard Tyler Herro, in the Giannis Antetokounmpo blockbuster trade. That opens a door for Conwell to become part of the franchise’s next wave. He is one of four players on the active roster younger than 26, alongside Nikola Jovic, Gardner and Pelle Larsson.
Even if the minutes are hard to find, there should still be plenty for him to absorb. Antetokounmpo, Thompson, Andrew Wiggins and Bobby Portis Jr. bring a combined seven rings to the locker room.
And if there is a franchise built for turning overlooked players into something more, Miami has already made that case. Duncan Robinson, Max Strus, Gabe Vincent, Haywood Highsmith and Caleb Martin are all proof of the same thing. Conwell is walking into a system that has a real track record of helping players grow while they wait for their chance.
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