6 free agents the Miami Heat can replace Dion Waiters with

Dion Waiters — who is enjoying the best season of his career — will be a free agent this summer. If he leaves, who can the Miami Heat replace him with?

The Miami Heat may have a huge hole to fill this summer. Well, there could be a lot of holes, considering almost half the active roster will be free agents after the year is up.

But no potential departee would leave a larger void behind than Dion Waiters. Miami’s shooting guard is playing the best basketball of his career. And his importance to the team cannot be overstated. When he plays, the Heat perform at an elite level; when he doesn’t, they become bottom-feeders.

It’s entirely possible that team president Pat Riley’s strategy heading into the offseason has changed after seeing his team fall apart without its starting 2-guard.

Over their last four games, all of which Waiters sat out due to injury, Miami is 1-3. They are on the brink of irreversibly damaging their hopes to clinch a playoff spot. All because of an awkward landing and a twisted ankle.

Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra’s drive-and-kick system is predicated mostly around Goran Dragic, but also on Waiters as a secondary play-maker. Losing him in free agency would force Miami to adapt.

Over their recent history, they have shown the ability do so. But why make yourself modify what’s been working so effectively?

I think Riley finds a way to keep Waiters. Regardless, if he doesn’t, here are five potential replacements.