Apr 15, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra and guard Tyler Johnson (8) talk during a game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center. The Heat won 105-101. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Young Projects Heat need to develop
Hassan Whiteside: The biggest surprise and the biggest find for the Heat during the 2014/2015 season had to be Hassan Whiteside. Scrapped from the depths of the D-League, Whiteside came on strong for the Heat, displaying his athleticism and raw ability to play the game. Whiteside, if he can keep his anger under control, has a limitless ceiling, one the Heat hope to unleash next season, before deciding if he’s a max contract kind of player next off-season.
James Ennis: Pat Riley and the Heat have not drafted well recently. This was a major Achilles heel for the team and played a major role in LeBron taking his talents back to Cleveland. They did hit on Ennis as a second round pick and he made them look smart. Ennis came into his own over the last month of the season and could even be in line for a starting job if Deng decides to opt out of his contract and sign a longer contract elsewhere.
Tyler Johnson: Johnson went from an undrafted free agent to a key cog in the Heat’s rotation as the Heat started to run out of fresh bodies. Johnson shot a 38% from beyond the three-point arc in 2015 and played well offensively for the Heat at times, filling in for the injured Wade. Johnson needs to continue working on his offensive and defensive game, and could become a solid role player for the team down the road. He’s still a key developmental player for the team.
Zoran Dragic: Realistically, Zoran’s future with the Heat depends on what his brother, Goran, will do. If he bolts Miami, it would be interesting to see if the Heat would still want him on the roster. If he Goran resigns with the team, it’s hard to see the Heat dealing his brother. Either way, Zoran has a promising future, on that the Heat hope can take place with the Heat in Miami.
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