With the Miami Heat’s off-season in full swing, it’s time to hand out some player grades.
Despite making the postseason this time around, 2017-18 wasn’t all too kind to the Miami Heat. Including handing them a first round playoff exit, courtesy of the Philadelphia 76ers. And so, as the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors battle it out once again via the 2018 NBA Finals, the rest of the league has been thrust into their off-season.
This summer is bound to be a busy one for the Heat. Between the likes of trying to figure out if they should unload Hassan Whiteside and how to keep Wayne Ellington around, there is a possibility that the roster will look quite different come next fall.
However, there’s also a chance that things stay almost exactly the same.
(Uncertainty really seems to be the name of the game in Miami recently.)
Regardless of what happens next year though, there’s still plenty of reflecting to do on the current squad. While guys like Goran Dragic continued to have rocky steady campaigns, others like Tyler Johnson seemed to have regressed. And then there’s Justise Winslow and Josh Richardson (Rook 1 and 2, respectively) that blossomed at exactly the right time.
Of course, Dwyane Wade also once again gave a helping hand to the Heat, making his return to the team in February. With Dion Waiters unfortunately taking a step back, sidelined by unavoidable ankle surgery.
Each player played a role in both the organization’s success and failures this season, so it’s time to hand out final grades.
Goran Dragic – A+
This past year, Dragic went from Mr. Dependable to Mr. All-Star. Representing Team LeBron James as a replacement for a sidelined Kevin Love in the 2018 NBA All-Star Game, the Slovenia-native finally reached one of his greatest career goals.
That aside, the point guard had an overall solid season. Averaging 17.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.8 assists a game, he saw time in 75 total contests, starting in every last one. He was by far the team’s most consistent player, even being named one of three co-captains on the year.
His best game came on February 3, against the Detroit Pistons. He scored 33 points in 35 minutes on 13-of-23 shooting from the field, including going 3-for-3 from downtown. And also totaled two rebounds, six assists, one block and two steals.
But The Dragon had plenty more impressive performances this season.
In fact, he even scored 33 points on another occasion, this time versus the Sacramento Kings. Dragic shot 11-of-21 from the field in 39 minutes, taking offensive control over the entirety of the game. And just two nights later, he went 10-of-18 in Los Angeles for 30 points in 31 minutes against the Lakers.
The veteran may have continued to go overlooked throughout the majority of the league, but Heat fans knew he was the glue that held the roster together. And not just with his on-court presence either.
For example, when Whiteside were struggling, Dragic was right there beside him. He praised his center in the media, acted as a mentor to him off the court and tried to get him as involved in the offense as possible.
So it’s safe to say that No. 7 was Miami’s 2017-18 MVP.
Tyler Johnson – C+
It’s never easy to take on a new role, and no one knows that better than Johnson. While the guard spent last year making a case for Sixth Man of the Year, he found himself as a starter for more than half of his 2017-18 campaign.
Johnson, who didn’t start in a single one of the 73 games he competed in last season, started a whopping 39 of 72 this year. Which unfortunately, didn’t exactly work out for the best. Although on paper, it may not seem like the 26-year-old struggled, the eye test tells a different story.
In 2016-17, Johnson averaged 13.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.2 steals a game. He brought an unparalleled spark off the bench, was a defensive powerhouse and drained 3-pointers with ease. However this season, his production took a hit. He finished averaging 11.7 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists per contest, and didn’t quite possess the same energy.
Glimpses of brilliance were still there, though.
On December 30 against the Orlando Magic, he scored 31 points in 39 minutes, shooting 12-of-18 from the field (3-for-4 from downtown). He also collected four rebounds and dished out three assists, causing havoc all over the floor.
He also scored 25 ponts (including shooting 5-of-8 from 3) versus the San Antonio Spurs on December 6.
However overall, Johnson just couldn’t find his groove this season. Between having to switch to a starter and nursing a few injuries, the bulk of No. 8’s year was about average. A fact made slightly more concerning, considering that his salary is set to significantly increase next season.
Perhaps it’s time for this guard to return to the bench?
Hassan Whiteside – C
If there’s one thing Heat fans are going to remember about the 2017-18 season, it’s the drama surrounding Whiteside. Which is a shame considering how much potential the big man showcased just last year.
He finished 2016-17 averaging a career-high 17.0 points, 14.1 rebounds and 2.1 blocks a matchup, proving he earned his new four-year, $98 million contract. Which in turn, caused fans to only expect more of their center, come this season. But unfortunately, he regressed, having averaged 14.0 points, 11.4 rebounds and 1.7 blocks.
At first, it seemed like Whiteside would deliver. Heck, he recorded 26 points and 22 rebounds in 36 minutes (shooting 11-for-17) in Miami’s opener, on October 18.
But then, he was sidelined for five games.
And although he scored 13 points and grabbed 14 rebounds versus the Chicago Bulls on November 1, his first game back, he simply wasn’t able to consistently give the Heat what they needed from him thereon out.
However, his lackluster run wasn’t completely in his control.
On November 29, the 7-footer was once again sidelined, this time for 13 games, sitting out yet another nine in March. He only saw time in 54 contests on the year (compared to 77 the season prior), and was held to limited minutes in a handful of them.
So between his injuries and Spoelstra’s arguably poor usage of him thereafter, it’s only normal for Whiteside’s production to have taken a hit.
The problem was more so his attitude.
While his frustration was understandable at times, the 28-year-old too often vented to members of the press, as well as via his personal social media channels. This type of behavior not only rubbed fans the wrong way but clearly didn’t sit well with the likes of president Pat Riley, who called the center unprepared for the playoffs, during an exit interview.
Now the question is, will Whiteside still be in Miami come next fall?
Josh Richardson – B+
2017-18 was all about growth for the Heat’s youngins, and Richardson certainly grew into an even better version of himself.
Having had a solid 2016-17 run, averaging 10.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.1 steals a game, Rook 2 took things up a notch this season. He finished the year averaging 12.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.5 steals per contest, flexing on both ends of the court.
His most jaw-dropping performance came on February 7 against the Houston Rockets, when the third-year went off for 30 points in 39 minutes on 11-for-20 shooting from the field (including going 7-of-9 from downtown). He also totaled four rebounds, five assists, one block and one steal, really proving just how well-rounded of a player he has developed into.
That kind of high-level play wasn’t a fluke though. Richardson scored 28 points on 10-for-16 shooting (6-of-8 from beyond-the-arc) versus the Los Angeles Clippers on December 16, while also recording three rebounds, two assists, three blocks and a steal.
The only problem being, he wasn’t always consistent.
While the swingman definitely proved his overall worth, he had a problem showing up night in and night out. Sometimes he found himself with a hot hand, resulting in efficient offensive production. But then just like that, a game or two later, he would go cold, unable to find his rhythm.
Still, even when he found himself unable to shoot, he would continue to hold his team down defensively. So much so that head coach Erik Spoelstra thought he surely belonged on a NBA All-Defensive team (plot twist: he was then snubbed).
Richardson is undoubtedly the face of Miami’s future.
James Johnson – B-
Much like his brother from another mother, Tyler Johnson, James Johnson was thrown into a starting role this season. And it caused him a bit of stress, too.
Having started just five of 76 games in 2016-17, Johnson started 41 of 73 this year, drastically changing his responsibilities. Which given the fact that he was also named co-captain alongside Goran Dragic and Udonis Haslem, ending up being a lot on his plate. He averaged 10.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.0 steal a game this season, numbers that weren’t half bad, but also mirrored his 2017-18 campaign.
So while he may not have regressed, he didn’t exactly grow either.
Nevertheless, he had some standout games.
For instance, on March 19 against the Denver Nuggets, Bloodsport finished with 31 points on 13-of-17 shooting (4-for-6 from downtown), along with 11 rebounds and six assists.
He also scored 23 points in 29 minutes versus the Oklahoma City Thunder on March 23, going 7-for-13 from the field.
But overall, fans expected more from their starting forward. Especially when it came to consistency. Because although it was clear Johnson had the ability to take control offensively and be a problem defensively, too often he would have games when he simply couldn’t get going.
At times, there was also an issue of sloppy play. Whether it was bad turnovers or not paying close enough attention to the shot clock, an eight-year veteran should know better.
However, there is an argument to be made that No. 16 should have remained part of the second unit all along. Last year, he blossomed in a bench role, playing alongside Tyler Johnson. So in a way, it was only normal for him to struggle a bit this season.
Here’s hoping that Spoelstra is better able to find the right roles for his guys, come 2018-19.
Next: Miami Heat: What was really revealed versus the Philadelphia 76ers?
Miami Heat school is out for the summer.