The Miami Heat aren’t the playoffs, but eight former players are. Here’s the list so you know who to watch.
New Orleans Pelicans
Norris Cole
Norris Cole served Heat fans as the scapegoat for so much of this season. Some of it was deserved–he had no idea how to run the offense and that subtracted from the rest of his game. The fresh start was beneficial for both him and the Heat, and now he will be getting key rotation minutes off the bench for Anthony Davis’ Pelicans. From playing with LeBron to playing with The Brow, Cole has never missed the playoffs.
Toney Douglas
Toney Douglas spent one glorious, over-dribbling season with the Heat. I may the only one still in this corner. He’s a solid defender and manages to do stuff on offense every once in a while. Now that Heat fans don’t have to watch him pound the rock into the ground, maybe they can enjoy him.
Cleveland Cavaliers
LeBron James
So you’re probably not rooting for LeBron James this postseason. That shouldn’t keep you from watching the Cavs, though. Think of it this way… watch LeBron and see how he’s evolved since the last time he was in the playoffs with Cleveland. He’ll take to the post more, facilitate at a top level and defend the best player in the fourth quarter. All the things he learned to do in Miami. If you want, you can take credit for all of his success.
Mike Miller
Heat fans know what Playoff Mike Miller can do. Let’s see if he still has the magic.
James Jones
He may see more playing time with the Cavs than he did with the Heat in the playoffs. Watch in awe as he drains a 3 on one end then gives up and easy bucket on the other.
Shawn Marion
Way back when, before LeBron took his talents to South Beach,The Heat traded Shaq to the rebuilding Suns for Shawn Marion. Marion was supposed to pair with Dwyane Wade to create a new power duo in Miami, but his one-and-a-half seasons were disappointing and the Heat let him go after 2009.
Washington Wizards
Rasual Butler
Heat fans’ most recent memory of Rasual Butler is getting dunked on by James Ennis. Butler spent the first three seasons of his career in Miami after being drafted in the second round in 2002 by the Heat. He was a key rotation player and 3-point shooter, averaging 2.4 3s per game with the Heat. He went on to have success in New Orleans and with the Clippers before stumbling into a bit of renaissance this year with Washington.
Portland Trail Blazers
Dorrell Wright
Selected No. 19 overall by the Heat in 2004, Dorrell Wright spent six, disappointing seasons in Miami. His best year was on that atrocious 2007-08 team, when he averaged 7.9 points, 5 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 25.1 minutes per game. To make matters worse, he went on from Miami to thrive in Golden State. In his first season on the West Coast, Wright averaged 16.4 points and played all 82 games. Wright has gotten better with age, and has done well as a corner-3 specialist for Portland the last couple of years. Despite his disappointing tenure with the Heat, he’s still easy to root for.