Scouting report on the Heat’s new training camp invites

The Miami Heat understand that a Damian Lillard trade has the potential to dramatically shake up the roster. That’s why the team waited as long as it could before filling out its training camp roster and, even now, has opted to leave one standard roster spot open.

Teams cannot begin signing players to Exhibit 10 contracts (which amount to training camp invitations) before they have 14 players under standard contracts. That’s why, over the weekend, Heat GM Andy Elisburg pulled an Elisburg special: He found a loophole.

The Heat signed center Brandon McCoy — a 7-footer who spent last season with the Heat’s G League affiliate in Sioux Falls — as their 14th player, scooped up five players to fill out the training camp roster, then waived McCoy, who had evidently signed a non-guaranteed contract and was waived without impacting the salary cap.

Those five players are Drew Peterson, Cole Swider, Justin Champagnie, Alondes Williams and Caleb Daniels. When camp begins on Oct. 3, they will be competing with the players currently occupying Miami’s three two-way spots — Dru Smith, Jamaree Bouyea and Jamal Cain — for those two-way deals or, potentially, a spot on the 15-man roster.

Here’s a quick look at each of those players and why the Heat decided to bring them into the program:

Drew Peterson: A standout on Miami’s Summer League roster, Peterson went undrafted out of USC this year. The 6-foot-9 forward shot 47.1% on 4.3 3-point attempts for the Heat in Las Vegas Summer League last month.

Cole Swider: A 6-foot-9, 3-point shooting specialist, Swider provides the combination of size and shooting that the Heat have had success developing in the past. As part of the Lakers’ G League team last season, the 24-year-old averaged 17.1 points while shooting 43.6% on 7.6 3-point attempts per game. In his seven NBA appearances, he went 3 of 8 (37.5%) from beyond the arc. In four years at Syracuse, Swider made 38.1% of his 3s.

Did Miami Heat just find their next development success story in this 3-point specialist?

As they await a resolution to Damian Lillard's trade request, the Miami Heat have begun filling out their training camp roster with two sharpshooters.

Justin Champagnie: From Derrick Jones Jr. to Caleb Martin, Champagnie is the kind of toolsy wing the Heat have had success developing in the past. At 6-foot-6 with a near 6-foot-10 wingspan, Champagnie has some bounce and flashed defensive versatility during his stints in Toronto and Boston the last two seasons. He’s made just 11 of 33 career 3-point attempts and doesn’t provide much else on offense besides rebounding.

Alondes Williams: Before being a part of Miami’s Summer League program, Williams in 24 games for Brooklyn’s G League affiliate last season averaged 13.5 points on 51.3% shooting (37.5% on 3s), 4.7 rebounds and 2.9 steals. Those numbers were consistent with what he showed in Vegas and the Heat are excited to bring him into camp.

Caleb Daniels: Daniels spent six years in college after transferring from Tulane to Villanova, so he was already 24 by the time he went undrafted in June. But the Heat were quick to offer him a spot on their Summer League team, and it’s not a surprise that they plan to bring him into training camp. Daniels saw his usage increase in his three years at Villanova, where he also improved as a playmaker and defender. He’s a streaky shooter, but the Heat like his makeup. While at Villanova, he had to overcome a case of myocarditis as he went into the 2021-22 season.