Miami Heat Roundtable: Are changes inevitable in 2018-19?
So is there anyone you’re ready to move on from, regardless of how they perform in 2018-19?
Eyrich: Overall, no. I actually really like the roster this team has right now. If I had to choose someone for the sake of the question though, I would say Kelly Olynyk. I don’t have any issues with Olynyk, but I think Whiteside and Bam Adebayo can provide more, and the Heat could move forward without him.
Ebrahim: I could almost cop out and say Whiteside again, but I won’t. I think I’m ready to move on from Goran Dragic. Not because of his play on the court; there are many nights where he’s definitely the best player on the roster. But because he has the most value to capitalize on. For an aging point guard on a team that’s fighting to be middle of the pack, it’s time to let go and capitalize the return. After this season, he has a player option to opt-in to 2019-20 and that would be his last season on contract. As much as I’d prefer to trade him for assets right now, I believe he has just similar value at the end of the season, if he stays healthy and plays like he did this past season. Staying in the middle of the pack has no value; Dragic isn’t a championship point guard, but he’s no scrub either.
Rahming: I’m sorry to say this but Dragic is on my trading block. I’ve been on the record saying this in the past, and the recent rumors surrounding Phoenix really got me ready to let go. I understand that he just had his first All-Star appearance and that he’s still a good player, the Heat simply owe him too much money. I don’t want to let him go for free, but if there’s a trade out there where we can get draft picks and salary cap relief, I’d pull the trigger and let Johnson audition in the starting lineup and live with the results.