Miami Heat: 3 players with the most to prove in NBA’s return

Derick Jones Jr showing he can contribute to the Miami Heat’s title run would make his chances at a larger contract in free agency all the higher.

Few players have more at stake in the playoffs than pending free agents. For the Miami Heat, there’s a number of in house personnel headed to the open market.

But Derrick Jones Jr stands with the most to gain behind an impactful postseason. The 23-year old forward is headed into a market low on cap space with far more talent.

Versatility, or lack thereof, is the largest critique to Jones’ play. He’s often looked at as nothing more than a flashy dunker with low-end scoring potential. This season he posted averages of 8.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, and a lowly 1.1 assists per game.

It certainly doesn’t help that Jones shot just 27 percent from behind-the-arc, either.

The teams with top cap space this offseason will mostly be non-competitive clubs like the Atlanta Hawks, New York Knicks, or Memphis Grizzlies. If Jones wants to receive serious offers from teams with promises of playoffs or a potential title, he’ll need to capitalize in this year’s playoffs.

In order to garner a larger market and larger payday Jones will want to make his presence known in the final stretch of this 2019-2020 season.