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Fansided

Miami Heat: A season review of Heat Nation in 2017-18

By Brandon Johnson

MIAMI, FL - APRIL 21: Fan holds a sign during the game between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Miami Heat in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 21, 2018 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. 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 Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - APRIL 21: Fan holds a sign during the game between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Miami Heat in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 21, 2018 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. 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 Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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MIAMI, FL – APRIL 19: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers and Justise Winslow #20 of the Miami Heat speak before the game between the two teams in Game Three of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 19, 2018 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. 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 David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL – APRIL 19: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers and Justise Winslow #20 of the Miami Heat speak before the game between the two teams in Game Three of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 19, 2018 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. 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 David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The Bad

Trade Justise Winslow

In the same breath that Heat fans want to keep Winslow on lockdown, there is a contingent that wouldn’t mind seeing him gone.

Let these fans tell the story and Winslow is a forward who can’t score, has no upside and will only lead Miami into mediocrity.

Split opinions on key players are inherent in any fan base.

Do you really expect thousands of armchair general managers to agree on everything?

Still, the lack of a consensus on how much Miami enjoys Winslow’s presence is concerning, if only because of his relative youth.

Winslow started the season saying fans will be impressed at his growth. The jury might be divided on his progress, but he’s made gains nonetheless.

"“Once that thing [shooting] gets figured out, you can’t say there’s much I can’t do,” Winslow told the Miami Herald last September. “I can bring the ball. I can guard your best player. I can rebound. I can find my open shooters. I can push it on the break. Once that minor details gets settled out, we’re going to have a fun time.”"

Entering his fourth season, Justise Winslow is only 22-years-old. He’s steadily improved his 3-point touch and has proven integral in Miami’s secondary rotation. He’s a shifty defender, capable of guarding positions one-through-five on an as needed basis.

In the 2016 playoffs, Winslow subbed in as a small ball center even as the Toronto Raptors played Bismack Biyombo in traditional center fashion. Throughout the 2017-18 regular season, Winslow covered his share of post players, not limited to Derrick Favors, Anthony Davis and Karl-Anthony Towns.

Keeping a player with Winslow’s upside, even when his offense isn’t flowing, is a tough pill to swallow for Heat fans.

Four years removed from the last Finals visit, waiting for his improvement isn’t exactly fun, but jumping on the trade bandwagon is a problem.

Acquire Jabari Parker

As with any fandom, tossing around trade ideas or possible signings is a fun exercise. Exploring just how to make a new roster piece is an intellectual puzzle involving draft pick knowledge, access to a trade machine and a dash of creativity.

But when the fandom doubles down on trading/signing Jabari Parker, things get weird.

I get it, I really do.

Heat fans were underwhelmed by Hassan Whiteside’s play this season – even though it was riddled with injury and a bit of roster mismanagement. But when the consensus is to replace Whiteside with his smaller, more injury-prone doppelganger (so, not a doppelganger at all), I end up completely dumbfounded.

Miami as an organization has a history of listening to its fan base. Owner Mickey Arison fondly floated the idea of Vice themed jersey’s in 2015 after enormous fan support. Though he’s since deleted the Instagram post, three seasons later Heat Nation got their wish.

Thankfully management didn’t adhere to the clamor around picking up Parker. The Heat were well acquainted with injuries last season.

Adding a player with a pair troubled knees is the exact opposite of what Miami should want.

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