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Where should the Miami Heat rank in the NBA’s top-100 players?

By Brandon Johnson

MIAMI, FL - APRIL 21: Goran Dragic #7 of the Miami Heat and Wayne Ellington #2 of the Miami Heat look on during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers 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: Goran Dragic #7 of the Miami Heat and Wayne Ellington #2 of the Miami Heat look on during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers 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 – AUGUST 21: Kelly Olynyk #9 of the Miami Heat during NBA Off-season training with Remy Workouts on August 21, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL – AUGUST 21: Kelly Olynyk #9 of the Miami Heat during NBA Off-season training with Remy Workouts on August 21, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

What Gives?

Kelly Olynyk

Despite his meandering drive and almost sluggish game on offense, Olynyk’s play has most recently been described as “inspired” and “phenomenal” in the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers.

Olynyk was just that in 2018, making what some believed would be a difficult merger with Miami, into a healthy relationship, predicated on his ability to stretch the floor in ways that his counterpart Whiteside could not.

Though he only ranked 11th in points off the bench, Olynyk has a leg up on a handful of other bench pieces.

Entering his second season with Miami, he is already past the growing pains stage. With Miami trudging forward with effectively the same roster as last season, Olynyk will be poised to build on his contributions from last season, ideally, with a Sixth Man of the Year award in sight.

Josh Richardson

If Miami had a patron saint of high ceilings, it’d be Richardson. As a former second-round draft pick, Richardson has beaten the odds.

Only a handful of players drafted below him are salaried in the Association, and none boast the defensive resume Richardson has compiled.

Moving forward, Richardson could easily become the face of the franchise. His raw averages suggest that with greater responsibility, he could push the Heat through the East as a lock-down defender and offensive generator in the mold of Jimmy Butler.

What’s really keeping Richardson from exploding up the ranks is his team first, sacrifice-oriented mentality.

The NBA learned exactly what Isaiah Thomas had to offer when he was given the go ahead to run a middle-of-the-pack Boston Celtics team. Richardson could stand to take a pinch of that selfishness as his own, instigating his own breakout season sooner rather than later.

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