NBA rumors: Lakers after Christian Wood, Ex-Laker joins Heat, Kawhi timeline
By Kyle Delaney
NBA rumors: Ex-Laker joins Heat
Shams reported that the Miami Heat picked up ex-Laker Cole Swider.
Ex-Lakers G/F Cole Swider is signing a deal with the Miami Heat, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 6, 2023
Last month, the Lakers released Swider, making him a free agent. The Heat have a real knack for developing underappreciated talent and seem to embody the manifesto of one man’s trash being another man’s treasure.
Per the South Florida Sun Sentinel’s Ira Winderman, Swider’s deal does not become official until the Heat sign another player to a standard deal. Essentially, this is a camp invitation for Swider. The Heat have signed Swider to an Exhibit-10 deal, meaning it’s a one-year, minimum-salary NBA contract.
Swider averaged 15.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.7 assists a game for the G League’s South Bay Lakers. The Heat have a proven track record of developing players like Swider, i.e. Duncan Robinson. Finding another shooter is crucial for a Heat team that just lost Max Strus and Gabe Vincent in the offseason. The fact that Swider shot 43.6 percent from beyond the arc last season bodes well for him as he prepares to step into a similar role with the Heat this season.