All U Can Heat
Fansided

Miami Heat 1-on-1: Taking a closer look at the 2018-19 roster

By Allana Tachauer

MIAMI, FL - NOVEMBER 12: Josh Richardson #0 of the Miami Heat handles the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers on November 12, 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 - NOVEMBER 12: Josh Richardson #0 of the Miami Heat handles the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers on November 12, 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) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 4
Next
MIAMI, FL – NOVEMBER 10: Goran Dragic #7 of the Miami Heat brings the ball up the court against the Washington Wizards on November 10, 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL – NOVEMBER 10: Goran Dragic #7 of the Miami Heat brings the ball up the court against the Washington Wizards on November 10, 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Is Goran Dragic the type of point guard this team needs?

Tachauer: Believe it or not, I actually hesitated on this one (despite my forever love for Goran Dragic). Not because of what he brings to the table, but because of the certain guys he has around him. For starters, although Dwyane Wade is obviously on his way out, I still don’t think they gel together as well as Dragic and Dion Waiters do. I also think that Dragic’s chemistry with Whiteside could stand to improve, though it has gotten better over the past few seasons already. However, at the end of the day, I do think he’s actually the perfect person to play alongside guys like Richardson, Bam Adebayo and Justise Winslow; he keeps the offense going at a high tempo, which the younger guys thrive off of. And has become one heck of a playmaker, making the likes of them (plus Rodney McGruder) even better. So, at the end of the day, Dragic does seem to be the right fit, especially when considering the team’s future.

Leniart: Skill-wise? Yes. Money-wise? No. From a skill set standpoint, it is hard to not like what Dragic brings to the table. He can create off of the dribble, attack the basket, distribute the ball, and shoot the 3. Dragic did not gel well with Whiteside early on due to the attention Whiteside commands in the paint, but their chemistry has improved and head coach Erik Spoelstra has utilized them better in his rotations. Now comes the tough part of the conversation: money. Dragic is earning the third-highest salary on the team this season, and the two players ahead of him are widely-regarded as having bad contracts. He is an excellent NBA point guard, but right now the Miami Heat have a surplus of guards and no cap space. At 32-years-old, Dragic will probably not be a long-term fixture in the team’s backcourt. Miami needs to spend the season evaluating the stable of young guards on their roster. If they don’t feel confident about any of those players, they need to target a guard in the NBA draft or in free agency.

Home/Heat News