Heat notes: Hardaway's homecoming, Irving chatter, Smith's G League stint

Tim Hardaway Jr. says signing a one-year, $6.5M deal with Miami this summer was an easy call given his family ties and childhood in the city, according to Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald.

Marc Stein reports rival teams still watch for Dallas to soften its stance on Kyrie Irving before February's deadline, though Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel notes Miami lacks the assets to make a realistic offer.

The Heat signed and waived Dennis Smith Jr. so he could collect a bonus playing for their G League affiliate, with Erik Spoelstra saying the team hopes to help him work back toward an NBA roster.

Winderman also writes that Myron Gardner's role this season is unsettled and that Nick Richards, logging just 12.5 minutes a game in preseason, has a non-guaranteed deal that locks in only if he makes the opening roster.