Tre Donaldson made sure Miami Heat fans remembered his name Tuesday night.
The undrafted rookie guard was the biggest takeaway from Miami’s annual red, white, and pink scrimmage, finishing with 25 points and flashing the kind of confidence that can change a camp battle fast. In 35 minutes, Donaldson went 61.1 percent from the floor, added six rebounds, four assists and a steal, and delivered the moment that really traveled: a crossover on Heat second-round rookie Ryan Conwell that sent Conwell to the court while the shot dropped.
For a player on a two-way deal, that’s the kind of night that gets attention.
Donaldson already had a built-in following in South Florida from his time with the Miami Hurricanes in the 2025-26 NCAA season. He averaged 16.4 points on 45.4 percent shooting, along with 3.6 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 1.4 steals across 35 games, including 33 starts.
He was a major piece of Miami’s 26-9 turnaround under first-time head coach Jai Lucas, and while he arrived with a scorer’s label from Auburn and Michigan, he also showed real growth as a playmaker. Donaldson finished with five games of at least 10 assists.
Now the door is open for him at the next level.
Dru Smith’s right calf strain, suffered during training camp at Florida Atlantic University, has created a chance in the Heat backcourt. Smith had been lined up as the backup point guard behind Davion Mitchell, and while the organization clearly trusts the 28-year-old, Donaldson suddenly has a path to push into the conversation.
He brings more than just energy, too. Donaldson has already won an SEC title and a Big 10 tournament title, and he shot 37.7 percent from three in college, which gives him a clean fit next to stars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo.
The roster math also matters here. Miami still has one standard roster spot available, plus $2.83 million of room before reaching the first-apron threshold. Donaldson’s two-way deal allows him to appear in 50 regular-season games, and the Heat would likely use most of that runway before deciding whether to promote him.
That path would fit neatly with the organization’s track record. Miami has built a reputation for turning undrafted players into real NBA pieces, with Gabe Vincent, Max Strus, Duncan Robinson, Caleb Martin and Haywood Highsmith all standing as recent examples.
The preseason rolls on Thursday when the Heat host the New Orleans Pelicans at Kaseya Center. It’s another chance for Donaldson to keep forcing the issue and earn Erik Spoelstra’s trust.
Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. E.T., with the game televised on WPLG Local 10.
In Other News...
Tim Hardaway Jr Could Be The Heat's Real Swing Piece
Miamis offseason overhaul has been about more than just landing star power. Alongside the arrivals of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis, the Heat added Tim Hardaway Jr. to help address a long-standing need on the perimeter, a move that fits neatly with the later signing of Klay Thompson and the decision to keep Simone Fontecchio in the mix. Hardaway brings both spacing and a track record that suggests he can fit into a rotation built to punish teams for helping off the arc.
What makes him especially interesting is the way his profile could matter in bigger moments. Hardaway shot a career-high 40.7 percent from three last season with Denver and has been through the playoff grind before from his time with Dallas, giving Miami another proven shooter with some postseason scars. In a group already reshaped by major additions, the question is whether Hardaway ends up being just part of the shooting depth or the player who quietly decides how far this new-look Heat team can go. [Read more 🡒]
Klay Thompson Looks Like Miamis Best Bet In A Crucial Battle
The Heats preseason search for a starting shooting guard has become one of the more interesting early lineup decisions, and Klay Thompson is making a strong case simply by being the kind of reliable perimeter threat Miami has long valued at the position. Even with a scoreless preseason outing, Thompson still looks like the cleanest fit for a role that has often been defined by spacing, experience and the ability to punish defenses from the arc, which keeps him in the center of the conversation alongside Tim Hardaway Jr. and Pelle Larsson.
Hardaway brings his own proven shooting profile, but Thompsons track record and feel for the role give him an edge in a competition that feels less about upside than immediate trust. Larssons recent contract extension points to a longer-term future in the mix, but the Heat are still sorting out the present, and the starting job appears to be a battle between established options before the younger piece is ready to take the next step. [Read more 🡒]
Heat Suddenly Have A New Guard Worth Watching In Camp
Tre Donaldson put himself on the radar in a hurry during the Heats annual Red, White and Pink scrimmage, pacing the team with 25 points while also showing the kind of scoring and playmaking that can separate a camp invite from the pack. With Miami sorting through its backcourt options, every clean possession and every steady decision matters more than usual, and Donaldson clearly gave the coaching staff something to file away.
The timing only adds to the intrigue. Dru Smith is expected to miss a couple of weeks with a calf injury, leaving Erik Spoelstra to keep evaluating the guard room and other possible ball-handling answers. Spoelstra also singled out Ryan Conwell as another camp player making an impression, which suggests this part of camp is less about filling out reps and more about finding who can be trusted when the Heat need help in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]