Among new undrafted, there’s usually a Heat standout each summer league. Meet Drew Peterson

There’s usually at least one player each year who goes undrafted, joins the Miami Heat’s summer league team a few days later and then stands out in summer league to earn more time in the organization’s esteemed developmental program.

Despite not yet receiving a commitment from the Heat past summer league, 6-foot-9 sharpshooting forward Drew Peterson appears to be that player this year behind his intriguing combination of shooting and height.

Nikola Jovic’s summer league is over and other things to know from loss to Nuggets in Vegas

Peterson, who went undrafted this year out of Southern Cal after beginning his college career at Rice, was trusted to start in each of the Heat’s first five summer league games alongside returning players and draft picks like Nikola Jovic, Jamal Cain, Orlando Robinson, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Dru Smith. Peterson didn’t start in the Heat’s sixth summer league game, a 112-81 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Friday in Las Vegas, because he did not play on the second night of the back-to-back set.

The Heat closes summer league on Sunday against the Portland Trail Blazers (8 p.m., ESPN 2) in Las Vegas.

“Because he caught on to the team continuity and understood the concept of what we were trying to get accomplished,” Heat assistant coach and summer league head coach Caron Butler said of his decision to start Peterson in summer league. “From the spacing standpoint, playing off the other guys, the handlers, catch-and-goes, he’s done a remarkable job with that.

“And also, just defensively, I thought he did exceptionally well the games we had him out there. He knew his assignment. His communication was 10X. He did an exceptional job of communicating and echoing calls. And his teammates, his other guys, the guys in the locker room, wanted him out there.”

But it took a few games and some pleas from coaches for Peterson to get adjusted to his summer role with the Heat. Led by the coaching philosophy of Erik Spoelstra, the Heat wants its best three-point shooters to be aggressive and hunt opportunities from beyond the arc.

“I’m hearing it from a lot of guys in the organization and stuff like that,” Peterson said of the Heat’s push for him to put up more threes. “It’s something that even a contested three is a good look at this level. So I’m getting used to it, because I like to play-make and stuff like that.”

Peterson, 23, didn’t follow those directions right away. He totaled just six points on 1-of-6 (16.7 percent) shooting from the field and 1-of-5 (20 percent) shooting from three-point range in the Heat’s first two summer league games in Sacramento.

Since then, Peterson has been much more aggressive and the results have been much better. He has shot 8 of 14 (57.1 percent) on 4.7 three-point attempts per contest in the three games he has played in Las Vegas.

“I think it’s just getting used to the different style of play coming from college to the professional level,”Peterson said. “Obviously, like they say, it’s either threes or layups. There’s a lot more spacing and there’s a lot more length and athleticism. So when you get any bit of a window, you got to shoot that ball. That’s something I’ve been getting used to. It took me a little bit in Sacramento. But ever since Vegas, right when I get space, I shoot that.”

While three-point shooting is the skill that drew the Heat to Peterson, he’s also shown the ability to make quick reads with the ball in his hands. He’s recorded a total of 10 assists in the five summer league games he has played in with the Heat.

“I thought that was the glaring obvious when you’re watching film,” Butler said, referring to Peterson’s outside shooting. “But I just think he really understands that game. That’s a gift in its own right. He understands how to play the game, how to play off other really good players. And that’s a benefit and that’s an asset to a team. And if you can do that on the fly, in any situation you’re going to find yourself on the basketball floor.”

When asked about his all-around game, Peterson noted that his goal on the court is to “be a connector piece.”

“That’s a term I use a lot and it’s a term that with the nature of the game, the positionless nature, I try to be,” he said. “I think that I can play-make a lot out there and have a lot of skill for my size. It’s something where I feel like I can play a few different positions on the floor and guard a few different positions on the floor and just do anything I can. If it’s an off shooting night, rebound and pass and vice versa. A bad passing night, be able to make threes. So I just try to help out in any way I can for the team.”

The Heat’s player development program is considered one of the best in the league, identifying undrafted prospects who fit its system and then developing them in summer league and the G League until they’re ready for significant NBA minutes.

Among the Heat’s recent undrafted success stories are two three-point shooting weapons in Duncan Robinson and Max Strus. Peterson is working to join that group, with Robinson still on Miami’s roster but Strus leaving Miami to sign with the Cleveland Cavaliers in free agency this summer.

“It’s an organization that obviously has a rich history with undrafted guys and stuff like that,” Peterson said. “It’s just a one day at a time thing for me. I’m trying to get better every day, get more of a feel out there every day.”

There’s still plenty of uncertainty looming over the Heat’s roster for next season amid its ongoing pursuit of Portland Trail Blazers All-Star guard Damian Lillard. While those slow-moving trade discussions have yet to produce a deal, Peterson hopes his summer league play will be enough to produce an NBA contract.

The Heat currently has two open spots on its 15-man roster and one open two-way contract slot. Miami also could try to sign Peterson to an Exhibit 10 contract — essentially an invite to training camp to compete for a roster spot — to keep him within its player development system.

“Throughout my whole career, everything has been earned and not given,” Peterson said of going undrafted. “I’ve had a chip on my shoulder since I was young with everything, so it’s just another step where I take it one day at a time. Draft night is one night. At the end of the day, especially once you get to summer league and once you’re playing, everybody is in the same position and you kind of work your way up.”

SUMMER LEAGUE OVER FOR JOVIC

Jovic’s second summer league is over.

The Heat forward sat out Friday’s summer league loss after leaving Las Vegas to join the Serbian national team for World Cup preparations. He’ll also miss the Heat’s final summer league game on Sunday.

Jovic, who played in each of the Heat’s first four summer league games before missing the final three games, closed summer league with averages of 15 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game while shooting 40 percent from the field and 5 of 15 (33.3 percent) from three-point range.