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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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MIAMI, FL – JANUARY 4: Rodney McGruder #17 of the Miami Heat looks to pass the ball during the game against the Washington Wizards on January 4, 2019 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL – JANUARY 4: Rodney McGruder #17 of the Miami Heat looks to pass the ball during the game against the Washington Wizards on January 4, 2019 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) /

B-. . SF. Miami Heat. RODNEY MCGRUDER

The Miami Heat have a plethora of wings, but none of them have the hustle attitude that Rodney McGruder possesses on each and every play, no matter the game.

The scavenger is the epitome of a 3-and-D wing, allowing Spo to play McGruder a lot like P.J. Tucker for the Houston Rockets. And while McGruder was playing a lot hotter at the beginning of the season, he has still been a defensive workhorse and a pick-and-roll maestro for Miami.

The wing is averaging 9.8 PPG, 4.0 TRB, 2.0 AST, with shooting splits of 42.2/39.0/75.5.

If McGruder can continue to play lockdown defense and hit his open 3’s, you can expect more clutch minutes for the wing moving forward. However, with Dion Waiters finally returning, and the whispers of giving Wayne Ellington more minutes keep arising, you could see a drop in minutes for Rodney.

While that might not be the best idea, the Heat have depth and McGruder gets that more than anyone, as he is one of the best “team players” that Miami Has. In conclusion, if McGruder gets back to basics in the second half of the season, the Heat should be fine. He needs to throw some lobs to Bam and Hassan, hit open shots, and keep the team’s morale up with his grit and grind.

The next player we have is one that may be the reason Miami passes on re-signing Rodney McGruder in the near future, mostly because of false hope that can poison a teams cap moving forward.

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