Ryan Conwell made a strong final preseason case for a role when the games start to count.
With Dru Smith’s opening-night availability still in question, the Miami Heat may need another guard they can trust right away. Conwell put himself in that conversation against the backdrop of a roster that may also want to be careful with Tre Donaldson because of two-way game maximums. His case is simple enough: he can move the ball, and he can create his own shot.
In the Heat’s preseason finale, Conwell delivered a line that backed up the eye test. He scored 21 points and handed out seven assists in 30 minutes, shooting 53% from the floor and 3-for-7 from beyond the arc.
The numbers mattered, but the bigger takeaway was how he got to those numbers. Conwell repeatedly found his spots and showed comfort with a short midrange pull-up and floater, a shot that kept showing up throughout the game. Those attempts won’t all fall every night, but the process was there.
He also played with a pace that stood out. For a rookie, that kind of control is unusual. It gives him a chance to stay composed against NBA speed and make the game look less rushed than it often does for first-year players.
The 3-point shot gives him another lane to help Miami. That part of his game can fit neatly into a bench unit built around spacing, even one that includes Giannis, where the Heat could try to punish second units on offense.
There are still rough edges. Conwell committed four turnovers in the preseason finale, and his defense remains an unknown. But the Heat don’t need him to carry a huge load right away, and that should help keep those issues from being exposed too much early on.
The bigger point is that he may get a chance anyway, injuries or not. Miami’s young group is small to begin with, with only three players on the active roster 23 and younger: Nikola Jovic, Tre Donaldson, and Conwell.
At minimum, Conwell gives the Heat another offensive option, and one that can pair with the defense-minded Dru Smith. If he looks ready, there’s a straightforward answer here: play him. He has already shown enough to deserve a spot in the rotation conversation.
In Other News...
Heat Preseason Finale Exposed A Problem Miami Can't Ignore
The Heats preseason finale in Orlando offered a sharp reminder that even October games can reveal real issues before the games count. The Magic handled Miami 136-115, and the loss came with a lot more going on than the final score, as both teams were forced to navigate a night that turned messy when several players left with injuries and the level of concern around those situations still has to be sorted out.
Miami did not get the kind of clean tune-up it probably wanted heading into the regular season, especially against a Magic group that looked sharp in transition and opportunistic off turnovers. Nikola Vucevic added 13 points and seven rebounds in 23 minutes, helping fuel the kind of efficient stretch that made Orlando difficult to keep up with, while the Heat were left to absorb a preseason game that exposed something they cannot afford to carry forward. [Read more 🡒]
Heat Backcourt Need Puts An Unexpected Former First-Round Guard In Play
With the Heat still sorting through their backcourt options after a series of roster challenges and injuries, a familiar offseason theme has surfaced again: Miami is looking for another guard who can help stabilize the rotation. NBA insider Jake Fischer reports that Walter Clayton Jr. is on the teams radar, a notable name considering his path from college All-American to former first-round draft pick and then on to Memphis after last seasons trade.
Claytons situation is one to watch because he could become available before the new season through either a trade or a cap move, giving Miami a possible opening to add another ballhandler without waiting for the market to dry up. For a Heat team that has been forced to manage its depth carefully, the appeal is obvious, even if the timing and cost of any deal remain unresolved. [Read more 🡒]
Nick Richards May Have Forced The Heat Into A Tough Final Call
Nick Richards has turned the final stretch of Heat preseason into a real roster conversation, and not just because of one good night. Over the last two games, he has given Miami steady frontcourt production with 10 points and eight rebounds per game, the kind of contribution that can quietly matter when teams are sorting out the edges of an opening-night roster. For a team that is always watching the margins closely, that kind of finish tends to get attention fast.
What makes the situation more interesting is what comes with the decision. If Richards sticks on the opening-night roster, his contract would become guaranteed for the 2026-27 season, adding another layer to what the front office has to weigh before the season begins. Miami still has a choice to make, but Richards has done enough lately to make it a tougher one than it looked a couple of weeks ago. [Read more 🡒]