Player exit review: McGruder became the scavenger the Heat needed
By Rob Slater
Where We Go From Here
McGruder will get a well-deserved raise in 2017-18, going from $543k to $1.3 million as he enters the final year of his contract.
There is no doubt that the young guard plays a large role in what looks to be a slow rebuild for the Miami Heat as they develop some of their own young talent (McGruder included) and look to attract some of the bigger names that may become available.
It’s not a negative to say that McGruder probably won’t blossom into the NBA’s definition of a star. He won’t appear on an All-NBA ballot anytime soon or be in the MVP race. However, there is a place for him on a contending team.
When you think about the future of Rodney McGruder, think of players like Houston’s Patrick Beverly, San Antonio’s Danny Green, Boston’s Avery Bradley and past Heat greats like Jamal Mashburn and Shane Battier.
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That should be the model for McGruder moving forward but if the Heat have shown anything it’s that they will look to develop his game outside of the confines of how the league defines him.