Ryan Conwell has done enough to prove to the Miami Heat that he could be their next second-round gem. After a strong stint in the NBA Summer League, the Heat have elected to send Conwell home early, indicating that he's already shown enough to the coaching staff.
Conwell played in just four total summer league games (three in the California Classic and one in Las Vegas). In three games in California, Conwell averaged 21 points, five rebounds, and three assists on 41 percent shooting from the field. During his lone game in Las Vegas, Conwell finished with 19 points on 44 percent shooting from the field.
Overall, it seems as if the Heat had seen enough from the second-round pick - and in a good way. As Miami prepares to polish off the building of their first-year roster around Giannis Antetokounmpo, it does feel as if Conwell will be in the running for a real shot at breaking the rotation from the initial jump.
Ryan Conwell has been sent home from the Heat from summer league, with the staff confident they had seen enough from the second-round pick.
— Ira Winderman (@IraHeatBeat) July 15, 2026
For better or worse, that's where the Heat currently finds itself after gutting their roster in the initial trade for Giannis. It's not surprising, but if the Heat have actually done it again with Conwell, it will go a long way in putting themselves in a position to compete in the Eastern Conference.
Ryan Conwell could emerge as a huge depth piece for Miami
Not to say that Conwell is going to have to play a big role for the Heat to be successful this season, but it's the added depth that would be the biggest development for Miami. Especially considering the need they have in the backcourt.
The Heat certainly has the top-level talent to compete in the postseason. What could end up separating the Heat from other contenders is the depth. It's one of the biggest reasons why the likes of the New York Knicks, San Antonio Spurs, and Oklahoma City Thunder were three of the four final teams standing.
Those three teams have the best depth in the NBA. That's not a coincidence. As the super team has fallen by the wayside in the modern NBA, we're officially in the era of teams winning with depth.
Now that the Heat has the top-level talent, it's the depth that could end up hurting them most. Conwell may only be one piece of a much larger puzzle, but if he can emerge as a useful player in the rotation this season, it will go a long way in helping give this supporting cast around Giannis a much-needed boost.
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