After a promising debut with the Miami Heat’s summer league squad, Jon Scheyer’s chances of making the team’s final roster suffered a major setback Wednesday.
Scheyer sustained a lacerated eyelid during the team’s second game Tuesday night. He received five stitches and was released from the hospital, but he did not play in the Heat’s Wednesday game against the Detroit Pistons.
The reason for Scheyer’s absence will dishearten Duke fans eagerly keeping tabs on his attempt to make an NBA team after going undrafted.
Two Miami sports reporters tweeted late Wednesday night that the former Blue Devil who helped lead Duke to its fourth National Championship had to leave Las Vegas and will not participate in Miami’s remaining summer league games.
Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel (@IraHeatBeat) said the Heat sent Scheyer home. Michael Wallace of the Miami Herald (@wallacesports @WallaceNBAHeat) added that Scheyer would miss the rest of the Las Vegas games after he saw a specialist Wednesday and flew back to Chicago (Note: this link was disabled because Wallace changed his Twitter name to @WallaceNBAHeat over the weekend).
The summer league was essentially Scheyer’s audition for a spot on the Heat, and Las Vegas was most likely his one and only opportunity this year to prove he possesses NBA-caliber skills. While Scheyer did impress with a clutch performance in the Miami’s opener, he needed strong performances in the remaining three games in order to keep his stock high and stay on the team’s radar.
As a result of the injury, head coach Erik Spoelstra and his staff have only seen Scheyer play competitive five-on-five for 36 minutes. It would be foolish for an NBA team to offer a contract to a player on the basis of such a limited period of evaluation.
The Heat’s continued signing of available free agents increases the improbability of Scheyer suiting up for the team next year. In the wake of the James-Bosh-Wade signing, Udonis Haslem and Mike Miller inked deals with Miami. Veteran big man Zydrunas Ilgauskas said Tuesday he also plans to join the Heat and reunite with Lebron.
Now Miami reportedly has its sights set on an experienced point guard to back up Mario Chalmers. Keyon Dooling, Jason Williams, Carlos Arroyo (all former Miami players) and Earl Watson are all potential targets. With Scheyer sitting on the sidelines at home, it looks as if Miami is prepared to move on without him.
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