Former Hawaii basketball forward Stefan Jankovic took Monday’s news of his waiver from the Miami Heat in stride.
Jankovic, who played only in one preseason game with the Heat, now must decide between accepting an assignment to Miami’s D-League affiliate in Sioux Falls, S.D., or playing pro overseas.
“My luck of warm weather seems to be coming to an end,” Jankovic messaged the Honolulu Star-Advertiser on Monday night.
He was released so the Heat could sign center Vashil Fernandez to their 20-man preseason roster. Miami must narrow its roster to 15 for the NBA regular season, which begins Oct. 25.
The 2015-16 Big West Player of the Year had an ill-timed right foot sprain just before fall training camp, limiting his participation in team drills. Jankovic did not play in the Heat’s first three preseason games, and went scoreless in the last four minutes of Miami’s 108-100 win at San Antonio on Friday.
He has a $100,000 guarantee on his partially guaranteed contract, according to the South Florida Sun Sentinel, which reported Jankovic will likely opt to join the Sioux Falls Skyforce.
“We’ll see. I got some time now to make a decision,” Jankovic wrote to the Star-Advertiser. “I was actually thinking of coming to Hawaii next week for a couple days before I decide what to do.”
Europe is his likely destination if he does not play in the D-League.
The 6-foot-11 Jankovic helped UH to its first NCAA Tournament victory. He latched on with the Heat’s summer league squad and was signed through the preseason.
In a video interview with the Sun Sentinel, Heat coach Eric Spoelstra said Monday: “Stef, we spent a lot of time developing him this summer, summer league and a couple months after that. It’s unfortunate he sprained his ankle, wasn’t able to participate too much in training camp before that. Now will come the next decision, and that’s really in his ballpark, in his hands right now. But we’d like to continue the relationship with him.”
UH coach Eran Ganot still has high hopes for Jankovic.
“Nothing’s changed,” Ganot said after UH’s practice. “He’s an intelligent young man with a bright future.”
