Miami Heat: Top 10 NBA Draft picks in franchise history
By Frank Urbina
4. Steve Smith (SG) — No. 5 pick in 1991 NBA Draft
Career stats (with the Heat): 189 GP, 15.2 PPG, 5.0 APG, 3.9 RPG, 1.0 SPG, 0.4 BPG, 2.6 TOV, 45.4 FG%, 35.5 3P%, 80.3 FT%
Remember that Grant Long trade I mentioned a few slides ago? That package deal for Kevin Willis? Well, the other part of that “package” was a young shooting guard by the name of Steve Smith. And although he’s best known now as an analyst on NBA TV, don’t be fooled…Smitty could play.
Unfortunately, much like most of the other guys on our list, his career in Miami didn’t last that long. He spent a little more than two seasons calling South Florida home before getting shipped to Atlanta.
It was a strange deal at the time, and even more confusing looking back. Smith made the NBA All-Rookie First team as a member of the Heat and was coming off an exceptional playoff performance against the Hawks — one that proved to be his arrival as a borderline elite 2-guard.
Clearly, his showing was impressive enough to convince Atlanta to make Miami an offer for Smith just two games into the following season. For whatever inexplicable reason, the Heat accepted.
As a member of the Peach State franchise, Smitty averaged 19.3 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game while shooting 84.4 percent from the foul line. He was an All-Star in 1998, and won a gold medal with the Olympic men’s basketball team in 2000 at the Sydney games.
Not a bad career, especially for a Heat draftee. And when compared to some of the other guys on our list, his pedigree stands out even more.