KANSAS CITY, Mo. _ The Miami Heat's injury-free training camp hit a sobering detour with the team confirming that potential starting small forward Rodney McGruder has a stress fracture of his left tibia, expected to undergo surgery Tuesday.
While the team said "any timetable is premature," Yahoo Sports reported that McGruder will be sidelined for three to six months, a timetable that could have him out for the season.
McGruder, 26, had been complained of leg soreness for the past several days, despite soldiering on in his regular role.
McGruder had been the lone Heat player to start all five exhibitions, with the Heat's preseason concluding with a Friday game at the Sprint Center against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra did not mention the McGruder injury prior to the Heat's departure for Kansas City.
With McGruder sidelined the Heat likely will roll out a lineup for Wednesday's regular-season opener against the Orlando Magic at the Amway Center that has not started during the preseason, with point guard Goran Dragic to miss Friday's game for additional rest, remaining behind in South Florida.
Spoelstra's options as his starting small forward include Josh Richardson, who has had the strongest preseason of any Heat player, as well as Justise Winslow and James Johnson.
Another option at small forward, second-year wing Okaro White, is sidelined with a shoulder injury.
McGruder holds a $1.3 million salary for the coming season that becomes guaranteed if he is on the opening-night roster. His guarantee for the coming season currently stands at $453,000.
Teams must trim to a maximum of 15 players by Monday, with most of those machinations having to be completed by Saturday because of the NBA's 48-hour waiver period.
McGruder's 65 starts last season were the fifth-highest total by a rookie in franchise history. His 10-game streak with at least one 3-pointer last season was the third longest by a Heat rookie.
The Heat have largely gone with a 10-player primary rotation during the preseason, with McGruder the lone player locked into a specific role. While Richardson is equipped to play small forward, he has started the past three games at point guard with the team giving Dragic time off following a hectic September playing for Slovenia at EuroBasket.
McGruder played 25 minutes in Wednesday's preseason victory over the Washington Wizards at AmericanAirlines Arena, with Spoelstra opting to give Dragic, starting shooting guard Dion Waiters and starting center Hassan Whiteside the night off.
McGruder stands among the most popular players in the locker room for his perseverance of going undrafted out of Kansas State, moving on to play in Hungary and then working his way into the NBA through time with the Heat's developmental-league affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce.
