With the Miami Heat’s NBA season on hold, it has fans thinking about everything. One thing is that some of these guys are done in Heat garb.
The Miami Heat are in the same boat as every other NBA franchise at the moment. This not only refers to the fact that they aren’t playing, but with options, free-agency, and the NBA Draft on the horizon, it has created worlds of uncertainty for anybody potentially involved in those types of business.
While the college players and prospects are still declaring and the options are there to protect either the player, the franchise, both, there haven’t been many reports or indications as far as how free-agency might be approached if this season isn’t resumed at some point. With that in mind, here are three players that we hope haven’t played their last games in a Miami Heat jersey.
Meyers Leonard
When he came over as apart of the Hassan Whiteside deal, he was considered a throw-in, but quite the throw-in in exchange for another seven-foot specimen. While Hassan is quite the defensive force when engaged, Meyers Leonard presented a different dynamic to the Miami Heat’s big man rotation. Not only is he practically a knock-down shooter from the outside, but he is more quick twitch and fluidly athletic than Hassan had ever been for the Heat.
Being out for about a month prior to the NBA’s suspension, we were just gearing up for a potential return. As that won’t be happening anytime soon, based on the suspension, you have to wonder if Leonard will be brought back.
He has become a fan favorite, a decent rim and paint protector, and led the entire NBA in three-point shooting percentage for a while this season, so it isn’t as though he had an awful year. Hopefully, play resumes for this season so we won’t have to worry about it just yet, but even beyond that, it would be nice to see Meyers back in the fold beyond this season.
Jae Crowder
Since coming over from Memphis in that trade deadline deal by the Miami Heat, Jae Crowder has been nothing short of amazing. Since arrival, he has become an integral part of the offense and defense in a very short period of time.
Known for being his uber tough and super aggressive self on the defensive side of the ball, he fits in perfectly with the culture that has been set for many years and the tone that was set by former Marquette Golden Eagles and now Miami Heat teammate, Jimmy Butler. He has also been a stud from three, hitting almost 40 percent of his shots from there since arriving.
Basically, Jae Crowder has insinuated via social media that he seems to want to be in Miami for the long haul and based on what he’s done so far, we would love to have him here. With all of the previous in mind, that is why we hope we haven’t seen the last of him in a Miami Heat uniform.
Goran Dragic
The Dragon has become a fixture in Miami and we just don’t want to see him go. As the Miami Heat have endured a few lean years prior to this one, Goran Dragic stuck it out and gave us all he had.
On this team though, he has had a chance to take more of a concentrated approach and focus on doing what he does best, getting buckets. Not only has Goran had one of his best seasons from an offensive effectiveness and efficiency standpoint, but he has also had his absolute best season from deep when it comes to shooting the ball.
The Dragon has become as mythical in Miami as the fire breathing figure he’s been nicknamed for. He represents everything the Miami Heat and from what I have come to learn about the city, that the city of Miami stands for, including the hard work, the diversity, the acceptance, and the perseverance to overcome adverse situations. These are the reasons why we have to have him back.
This has been a fun team to watch and an exciting one to root for. It has been made this way in part, due to the players mentioned above though. That is the main reason why we hope this isn’t the last we see of any of them in a Miami Heat uniform.