Dru Smith

Smith's career is a study in resilience. An undrafted defensive guard out of Evansville and Missouri, he carved out a Heat roster spot with connective, low-mistake play, then lost two straight seasons to brutal luck: a torn ACL in November 2023 and a ruptured Achilles in December 2024. Miami re-signed him anyway, and the faith paid off. In 2025-26 he appeared in 70 games — the healthiest and best season of his career at 5.6 points, 2.6 assists and 1.4 steals in about 16 minutes a night. The value isn't in scoring; it's the on-ball pressure, the steal rate, and the fact that he rarely turns it over, which is why a team kept a spot warm through two long rehabs. Miami guaranteed his 2026-27 salary, a quiet vote of confidence in a glue guy who fought his way back.