Miami Heat: Can Tyler Johnson win Sixth Man of the Year?

The Miami Heat have managed to bring back last season’s core players for 2017-18, so does Tyler Johnson have a shot at Sixth Man of the Year?

2017-18 NBA play will be here before you know it. After all, the Miami Heat will be hosting the Atlanta Hawks for their first preseason game on Oct 1.

Yes, just two months stand in the way of basketball returning to South Beach. And what is even better, is knowing how much of last season’s team is returning.

Back to make president Pat Riley and head coach Erik Spoelstra proud are the likes of Goran Dragic, Wayne Ellington, James Johnson, Rodney McGruder, Josh Richardson, Dion Waiters, Hassan Whiteside and Justise Winslow.

With rookie Bam Adebayo and newly signed free agent Kelly Olynyk recently hopping aboard the Heat Train.

Also sticking around Miami however is Tyler Johnson, having signed a four-year, $50 million deal prior to the start of 2016-17. After going undrafted in 2014. And being waived by the Heat that October. Because two 10-day contracts became a 2-year one. Followed by the Brooklyn Nets putting forth an offer sheet last summer. One that Miami knew it had to match.

Now some people say this was the wrong move, calling the deal more than Johnson deserves. Asking for the organization to trade him. Wanting that money off of their books.

But forget all that.

Because Johnson is worth every penny.

And he will prove it to you, this upcoming season.

Last year, Johnson came off the bench in all 73 games he saw time in and averaged 13.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.2 steals a contest. He shot 43.3 percent from the field and 37.2 percent from downtown. He stayed consistent game-by-game, month-by-month, regardless of who his opposition was or where he was playing.

Johnson brought more to the table, too.

He gave the second unit an unparalleled spark. Ran the offense with high-intensity. Zeroed in defensively with the utmost focus. What he provided the team went beyond numbers on a page. It could not just be measured by statistics.

Sounds a whole lot like a Sixth Man of the Year candidate, no?

Unfortunately, Johnson was beat out by Houston Rockets shooting guard Eric Gordon. The 28-year-old came off the bench for 60 of the 75 games he played in last season, having averaged 16.2 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists a matchup, on 40.0 percent shooting (37.2 percent from beyond-the-arc).

Numbers almost identical to Johnson, the difference being the Rockets finished third in the Western Conference, at 55-27. With the Heat having fallen to ninth in the East, 41-41.

But Miami has brought back a group that managed to turn 11-30 into 30-11, like it was nothing. The front office found unique talent in Adebayo and Olynyk, big men who are also shooters. The East has gotten weaker, with the likes of Paul George heading West.

So should Johnson be able to snag that Sixth Man award come 2017-18?

Absolutely.

And you best believe the 25-year-old believes in both the team, and himself.

"“We know what we’re capable of,” said Johnson. “If we continue building on the habits we picked up last season, we know we will be in every single game we play. Who’s to say we couldn’t crack that top four?”"

Hefty payday or not, he also knows the importance of staying hungry.

"“I know that the character of the guys on our team isn’t, ‘OK, now everybody feels comfortable. I think that they’re going to prove that they kind of have the chip on their shoulder that I had, was that, ‘Now, I’m going to prove that I’m worth it.’”"

Johnson had quite a run last year, but fans should only expect more from the North Dakota-native.

With everyone now comfortable with one another and Johnson just starting to hit his peak age, there is no reason to believe Johnson will not grow on both ends of the court. He should be a 15-point, 5-rebound, 5-assist guy, easy. As long as he stays healthy and is given the minutes he needs to execute, of course.

Next: Heat expected to offer Josh Richardson a contract extension

Tyler Johnson should have already been looked at for Sixth Man of the Year in 2016-17, so it goes without saying that he will have a shot at earning the honor, come this season.