Cain tries to make case to Heat brass, a year after Durant’s validation. And roster moves

Heat forward Jamal Cain knew he belonged when Kevin Durant patted him on the chest during the preseason last October and told him “You’re supposed to be here.”

Now Cain must convince the Heat coaches and front office that he belongs exclusively in Miami, as opposed to shuttling between Miami and Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

If Cain remains on his two-way contract, he could play no more than 50 games with the Heat and would spend the remainder of the season playing for the Heat’s G-Leaguer team 1827 miles to the north.

Cain’s hope remains that Miami will reward him with a standard contract. The Heat has 13 players on standard contracts and can carry up to 15, but is expected to begin the season with only 14, based on what Erik Spoelstra conveyed to TNT.

“This is a great time for me to showcase that I can help the team in the regular season,” Cain said afterward to Heat broadcaster Jason Jackson.

He certainly made a case with his 24-point, 10-rebound display in 27 minutes of Friday’s 120-104 loss at the Spurs.

“He really competed and played hard,” Erik Spoelstra said. “It’s satisfying to see. He’s put in so much time in the last year. His effort and attention to details defensively have gotten a lot better.

“When you put that much effort in and do all the right things on that end of the floor, the ball seems to find you on the other side of the floor. Everyone is really happy for him.”

Cain hit 9 of 14 shots from the field and 6 for 8 on threes.

“I’m trying to learn from Duncan [Robinson],” he cracked of his shooting. “Just being confident and trusting my ability and trying to read and react off my teammates.”

Cain shot 37.5 percent on threes in the G-League last season and 7 for 20 (35 percent) on threes in his 18 games and 240 minutes for the Heat.

The objective this season is to prove “that I am a trustworthy player and I can be a decent piece to the team that can help.”

His next chance comes on Sunday at Kaseya Center against Memphis (6 p.m., Bally Sports Sun).

With 10 Heat players missing Friday’s game, Cain started against the Spurs after logging just six minutes against Charlotte.

“A guy on a two-way coming into his second year is not expecting to go in with six minutes left,” he said. “I was grateful for the opportunity I had. I wanted to impact minutes in the limited minutes I had [against Charlotte]. I didn’t know I would be starting this game” against San Antonio.

The Heat has outscored the opponent by eight points during his 33 preseason minutes.

THIS AND THAT

Spoelstra said the team would further evaluate guard R.J. Hampton’s hamstring injury, sustained during warmups before Friday’s game.

Spoelstra said “we don’t know” the severity. “It doesn’t seem like it’s serious. He was doing some layups and felt something. We want to make sure that’s all it is. We’ll find out.”

Hampton is on a two-way contract. Teams can replace any of their three players that are signed to two-way contracts at any time.

Hampton, Cain and guard Dru Smith have those two-way contracts for the Heat.

▪ Smith has eight turnovers and six assists in preseason. That’s surprising, because he had 22 assists and three turnovers in 15 games for the Heat and Nets last season.

▪ Udonis Haslem appeared in TNT’s Atlanta studio during halftime of the Heat-Spurs game; he’s expected to be around the Heat a lot this season.

“I assumed he was here,” Spoelstra said. “I was texting him. He was like, ‘I’m in Atlanta.’ Looking forward to getting the footage and breaking it down.”

▪ Bam Adebayo and his BBT Foundation donated a new fitness center and basketball court to the Chapman Partnership homeless assist center’s Homestead location. Adebayo will celebrate the Oct. 21 unveiling with a push up competition with a Chapman resident.

Chapman “provides comprehensive programs and services in collaboration with others that empower their residents with dignity and respect to overcome homelessness and achieve and maintain long-term self-sufficiency.”

NEWS NOTE

The Heat released wing Drew Peterson and guard Alondes Williams, but both are expected to end up on the Heat’s G-League team unless they sign elsewhere. Both had been competing for jobs with “Exhibit 10” training camp invitations.

Peterson, the rookie from Southern California, appeared in one preseason game (Friday against the Spurs) and had two points. Williams scored nine points in his only preseason appearance.

The Heat has 19 players under contract, two under the maximum permitted during preseason. Three of those 19 are on training camp invitations - Cole Swider, Justin Champagnie and Cheick Diallo.