Miami Heat’s G League team a study in developmental success

DENVER – Love having you here, now go away.

Such is the unique duality of coaching in the G League. Such is the unique dynamic for former Miami Heat forward Kasib Powell as coach of the Heat’s developmental affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce.

Over the past month, Powell has seen his Skyforce stocked with the highest level of NBA-ready quality talent in years.

Then Powell saw it all in his rear view mirror.

Part of the push-pull of creating a dynamic developmental wing is that if ultimately successful it allows the franchise’s prospects to take flight.

Which, at the moment, has Powell both satisfied and scouring, as he attempts to keep the Sioux Falls Skyforce at the top of the G League standings.

As a matter of perspective consider that Powell and the Skyforce at the start of the season had at their disposal:

– Access to Heat developmental prospects Nikola Jovic, Orlando Robinson and Dru Smith.

– Designated roster spots for Heat two-way contract players Jamal Cain, Cole Swider and R.J. Hampton.

– The direct assignment from the Heat of training-camp players Drew Peterson, Alondes Williams, Cheick Diallo and Justin Champagnie.

For a G League roster, it was a wealth of riches.

But when Powell spoke to the Sun Sentinel at the start of the Skyforce’s ongoing western swing, he had none of those 10.

“I think that’s a good thing,” he said, which in any other situation would sound odd. “It’s a gift and curse. But I’d rather take it that way, that we’re developing players so they can move on, play at a higher level, then have it another way.”

While Swider and Cain have since returned to the Skyforce, Jovic, Williams, Robinson and Smith are with the Heat, with Smith out for the season following December knee surgery.

Diallo took a G League buyout and headed overseas, for a more lucrative deal.

Peterson has been with the Boston Celtics since signing a two-way contract in December.

Champagnie last week signed a 10-day contract with the Washington Wizards.

And Hampton requested to be dealt into the Wizards’ G League program.

So proud patriarch for the kids finding better footing? Or concerned coach having to move on to Plan Bs?

“It’s definitely a feel of a proud papa for sure,” Powell said. “Every time I get the call, no matter when it is during a season, we could be in first place, last place, winning streak, a losing streak, whatever it is, it’s always the same – when a guy gets that call, and he reaches out to you to let you know he got that call, it’s always that proud feeling.”

It is the rare situation, where the embrace is most heartfelt as players head out the door.

Having worked with the Heat’s summer-league team and then coaching during the Heat’s training camp, Powell felt it only a matter of time until the Skyforce became a driving force in stocking NBA rosters.

“You see those guys in summer league and then working with them before they got to Sioux Falls, you just kind of realize the potential that they had,” he said. “Everybody’s in the G League for a reason – seeing what their potential was and their strengths. I knew that was a good possibility if they played well and were professional off the court, that they would get that call.”

So now, until the Heat injury situation becomes better defined and more of the prospects can return to Sioux Falls, it is on to those who waited their turn.

“It’s also exciting to have guys that have been busting their butt and have been around and haven’t been able to get a lot of playing time finally be able to get playing time when those guys get called up,” Powell said “So it’s the perfect scenario, where everybody kind of wins.”

One of those remaining players is guard Jamaree Bouyea, who already had a brief call-up this season with the Portland Trail Blazers and this week had a 36-point, 15-assist game in a Skyforce victory over the Los Angeles Lakers’ affiliate.

“His time will come,” Powell said. “It’s the same as it was with Justin and Alondes. The right things will happen. And I think he’s in that position where he’s very close and I could see him getting his name called any day now.”

Cain said Powell’s temperament makes him the perfect fit amid the personnel chaos.

“It just speaks to his character and who he is,” Cain said during the Heat’s four-game trip concluding with Thursday night’s game against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena. “He just does a great job with players, showcasing ’em and getting ’em to that next level. That’s what’s been happening lately.

“He’s just an easy-going guy, very easy to talk to and very high energy. He loves everybody. He wants to see everybody succeed. So I think that’s the recipe why we’ve had so many guys get a call-up.”