Miami Heat: Andre Iguodala was and still is a key to success

The Miami Heat got as far as they did this season on the back of a trade deadline deal. Andre Iguodala, a part of that deal, was and still is key.

The Miami Heat were able to make it as far as they did this season for a few reasons. The first is Jimmy Butler.

Jimmy Butler was a beast throughout the regular year, throughout the seeding games, and then again in the playoffs and Finals. He is the most important reason why they were able to go as far as they did.

The second reason is the trade. The trade that sent Justise Winslow to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for Jae Crowder, Andre Iguodala, and Solomon Hill was an essential part of Miami being able to go on the run.

Solomon Hill brought depth and another wing-body we could throw out in a pinch. Jae Crowder brought two-way ability and as we eventually found out, a stroke unlike anything they ever saw from him in Memphis.

The Miami Heat must have known what they were getting when they made the trade with Memphis. Not only was Jae Crowder key and essential but so was Andre Iguodala.

The last part of that deal, Iggy, didn’t seem that big in the beginning, as after all, he hadn’t played a ton before arriving in Miami. By the time the Finals rolled around though, his value was on full display.

While he wasn’t in an offensive rhythm, which I blame on not playing a ton this year, his all-around floor game helped the Miami Heat out in many ways. No one guy is LeBron James, let’s be clear, but between what Jimmy Butler and Andre Iguodala were able to offer this team, they were LeBron James.

No matter what this team may have needed at any given time, be that a defender, a ball-handler to intimate the offense, or simply a veteran presence to ensure everyone was where they were supposed to be or to keep them calm, Andre was there to man the role.

While he offers a ton with his ability to do the basics on the floor, running, dribbling, and shooting, the auxiliary areas are where his value is immensely displayed at all times. Keep an eye on that moving forward, as though a lot of us thought that he would be gone after this season, that isn’t so.

That’s because the Miami Heat had to have to realized how valuable he was during the playoff run. He was absolutely key in making it, still is, and will continue to be as the Miami Heat look to make another run in the coming season.