Is 360-pound Joshua Smith the Heat's next big challenge?
Ira Winderman South Florida Sun Sentinel
"Obviously, I'm grateful for the opportunity the Heat have given me," Smith said during a private moment amid summer league. "And whatever plan they have for me, I'm ready.
"And if I'm able to come back and be able to do that, I saw with Dexter Pittman when he was on the team and lost 60 pounds, I would love that."
And that's the necessary first step. This has gone way past denial.
"A lot of it has to do with maturity with me," he said. "I mean, my college career didn't go the way I planned. I didn't put in the work that I needed to. Right now, I'm just trying to be the best professional I can and just trying to show them now that the weight that I am now that I can still get up and down the floor, that I can still move, and that it's not a liability on offense or defense."
At times during summer league over these past two weeks, both in Orlando and Las Vegas, that has been the case. He is more skilled than Pittman, a better passer out of the post than Austin, more mobile than Curry. He has the tools, having been schooled by arguably basketball's most respected coaching family when it comes to post play.
"A lot of it has come through just the people I've been able to work with," he said of a skill set that would make a lesser man well-paid. "One person in particular is Tom Newell, Pete Newell's son. I've been working out with him since I was about 13.
"So I've got to give a lot of praise to him, just for helping me, not just being a post player, working on dribbling, working on shooting, working on post moves. So that's a lot of it right there."
The breakthrough was expected at UCLA, then at Georgetown. Now there is an entire roster of similar hopefuls who have rallied around a big man who arguably never should have been in this predicament.
"While I obviously would love to change things that happened in the past, I can't," Smith said. "You have to focus on today and the next day and just try to become a better person."
Soon the Heat will let Smith know whether this dream will continue in Heat colors, whether he will be able to work with the same strength-and-conditioning staff that previously has proven so adept at the NBA weighting game.
"He's super skilled," Craig said. "He's very skilled. He's got great footwork, he's got great hands. So he does bring a talent in the halfcourt. He's actually a tremendous playmaker, as well."
"And yet," Kammerer, the Heat executive, said, "he has issues with some areas that are pretty significant. The ball is in his court. If he would really commit himself to losing 60 pounds and really be competitive and make it a priority, basketball, then I think he's got enough physical talent to be an NBA player. Now, when that's going to happen, or if it happens, I don't know.
"But, to me, it's so difficult to find someone with those kinds of skills and that kind of potential. We'll see what happens."
For many on the Heat's summer roster, Friday's game will mean time to turn in their Heat jerseys, to move on to the next dream.
For Smith, it's only about trying to make this one right.
"I'm getting extra work in," he said. "And whatever they have me do, I say yes."
iwinderman@tribpub.com. Follow him at twitter.com/iraheatbeat or facebook.com/ira.winderman
