Miami Heat: 3 reasons why Devin Harris is a perfect fit for the culture

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DENVER, CO – APRIL 1: Devin Harris #34 of the Denver Nuggets handles the ball against the Milwaukee Bucks on April 1, 2018 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Running Point

Arguably the biggest misunderstanding with the NBA’s infatuation with positionless basketball is that positions don’t matter. That would imply that a team of Joel Embiid, Hassan Whiteside, Andre Drummond, Jonas Valanciunas and Dwight Howard could run a successful rotation.

Positions are still very much relevant in the league. Teams are anchored by their ball handlers who, regardless of size, maintain the duties of a traditional point guard.

For the Heat, that means even when Justise Winslow runs point, he’s not playing like a small forward who dribbles the ball past half court. Rather, he’s playing point guard in a small forward’s body.

Though the Heat are on pace to continue to experiment with Winslow as a secondary ball handler, they lack a true substitute for their starting guard Goran Dragic.

Picking up Devin Harris immediately assuages that positional dearth, providing a qualified alternative when Miami prioritizes a traditional guard skill set.

A capable shooter, Harris’ ability to play off ball is useful given Miami’s egalitarian offensive nature. His presence however would also curry favor with Hassan Whiteside, Miami’s centerpiece who didn’t mesh well with head coach Erik Spoelstra’s positionless approach.

Last season, Whiteside played his best ball with Dragic and Dion Waiters on the floor. Among Miami’s two-man combinations last year, Whiteside playing with Dragic and Waiters were two of the top three in terms of point creation.

As a center anchored to the post, Whiteside thrives when Miami has a ball handler who presents a scoring threat. Similar to his successful tandem with Wade through 2015-16, Dragic and Waiters create options for Whiteside that Winslow at point simply can’t replicate.

Harris offers a similar option, providing further lineup flexibility.

Whiteside was almost always absent from Miami’s secondary rotation, the “Platinum Group”. Incorporating Harris in a backup role would expand Whiteside’s chance to play, hopefully further removing him from his season of discontent.

Furthermore, Miami could acquire Harris at the veteran minimum, further cashing in on his contributions. While he turns 36 this season, Harris is primed to run with a group of young guns.

The Nuggets of last season prided themselves on outpacing opponents in scoring, ending the regular season sixth with 110 points per game. Regardless of how Miami chooses to pace themselves next season, Harris could slot in nicely, catering to Miami’s positionless preference while supporting the engagement of Whiteside in the middle.

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