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Miami Heat: 13 player grades for the first half of the regular season

By Trey Flynn

MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 08: Head coach Erik Spoelstra of the Miami Heat directs his team against the Denver Nuggets at American Airlines Arena on January 8, 2019 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. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 08: Head coach Erik Spoelstra of the Miami Heat directs his team against the Denver Nuggets at American Airlines Arena on January 8, 2019 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. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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PHOENIX, AZ – DECEMBER 7: Dwyane Wade #3 of the Miami Heat and Goran Dragic #7 of the Miami Heat share a laugh on the bench on December 7, 2018 at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ – DECEMBER 7: Dwyane Wade #3 of the Miami Heat and Goran Dragic #7 of the Miami Heat share a laugh on the bench on December 7, 2018 at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) /

PG. Miami Heat. GORAN DRAGIC. B-.

The Miami Heat’s Goran Dragic went through arthroscopic knee surgery a month ago and shouldn’t be back until around All-Star break.

The bad news and good news of the Dragic injury midseason is that the Heat desperately need their 2018 All-Star to compete and secure a spot in the playoffs, but they also need to work Justise Winslow in more at the point guard position. Luckily, both of those can still happen, with Dragic and Winslow most likely being able to play with one another when the dragon comes back from injury.

Before the injury, Dragic was playing like he was hampered with something, looking unlike his spry self and more slow off the bounce.

You can expect a healthy Dragic post All-Star break and that his grade will ultimately rise to our no. 2 or 1 spot by the end of the season. While Dragic may not be the best player on the Heat anymore, Miami still finds a way to win games more with him than without him, so getting him back will be key for the Heat moving forward.

As for what role he will play, most likely he will start alongside Josh Richardson in the backcourt and Spo will bring Winslow off the bench to split minutes at the point guard position. It is not likely that Dragic will lose minutes, but it will be more Winslow gaining more minutes, taking them away from other players. Moreover, Dragic has played off-the-ball as a shooting guard in Phoenix, so that is an option as well.

The big man who loves Snapchat is next, and I am not sure how to feel about it.

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