Miami Heat starter on verge of signing deal to play in Europe

Report: Former Miami Heat starter on verge of signing deal to play in Europe

Former Miami Heat guard Rodney McGruder reportedly is on the verge of completing a deal to play for Pallacanestro Olimpia Milano, a Lega Basket Serie A (LBA) professional basketball team based in Milan, Italy.

McGruder, who played for the Heat from the 2016-17 season through the 2018-19 campaign, last played in the NBA in the 2022-23 season for the Detroit Pistons.

The 32-year-old previously played for the Los Angeles Clippers throughout his NBA career.

For his NBA career, McGruder boasts averages of 5.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game on 42.0 percent shooting from the field and 36.0 percent shooting from beyond the arc.

With the Heat, McGruder appeared in 162 games spanning three seasons, with 112 starts. An undrafted player out of Kansas State University, McGruder carved out a good role in Miami, playing 23.5 minutes per game for the Heat.

His first season with the Heat was perhaps his best, as he played in a career-high 78 games and started 65 of those contests. McGruder averaged 6.4 points and 3.3 rebounds per game for Miami that season.

He spent one year with Los Angeles, appearing in 56 games and making four starts. From then, the shooting guard spent three seasons with the Pistons, but he did not play as much as he did with the Heat.

Last season with Detroit, McGruder appeared in 32 games, making 12 starts. He averaged 5.7 points, 2.3 rebounds and 0.9 assists in 16.4 minutes per game.

 

Without an NBA team this season, McGruder appears to be seeking for a fresh option to prolong his basketball career by playing overseas.

Olimpia Milano’s roster boasts another former Heat player, guard Shabazz Napier, who was a first-round pick and played with the team in the 2014-15 season.

Olimpia Milano also has some additional former NBA players on its squad. It appears like McGruder will be joining a quality squad if his deal is approved, and he will be able to reminisce on his Heat days with Napier, who presumably has some comparable recollections from his time with the franchise.

Hopefully, McGruder can carve out a nice role with Olimpia Milano to extend his playing career in Europe.