The Miami Heat were dominated through only four games of their opening round NBA Playoffs series against the Milwaukee Bucks. They were only dominated through “only four games” because there was only four games.
The Heat were swept, as we all know by now. In a series full of dull and dark spots, there was one bright spot and we do mean bright.
That was the play of the Miami Heat’s biggest rostered player, Dewayne Dedmon. Being one of the freshest Miami Heat players as well, having not joined the Heat until late in the season and after sitting out since last season’s coronavirus suspension, you could see that he was there, spry, and engaged quickly into his Miami Heat tenure.
The Miami Heat got the best of Dewayne Dedmon this year when he was on the floor for them and they would be smart to retain him.
With Dedmon set to, once again, hit the open market, the Miami Heat have a decision to make. For reference, take a quick peep at a similar scenario from just a season ago.
The Heat made their deep NBA Bubble NBA Playoff run, in large part, due to a trade they made during the middle of last season. Sending Justise Winslow to the Memphis Grizzlies, they landed Solomon Hill, Andre Iguodala, and Jae Crowder from the Grizz.
While they all had a pretty decent hand in the Miami Heat’s run last season, Crowder was flat-out key. The Miami Heat proceeded to let him walk this past offseason, as he received a three-year deal from Phoenix worth nearly $30 million dollars.
Crowder did what was best for him, as we all would have, but where did that leave Miami? It left them searching for a Crowder-type, until they landed Trevor Ariza.
Ariza quickly was inserted into the starting lineup and though he didn’t have a great series against Milwaukee, still think the late season Joel Embiid ankle tweak was bothering him, his value was quickly realized in Miami. What does this all mean about Dedmon though?
It means that they can’t make the same mistake with The Ded Man, that they made with Jae Crowder. At anything below ridiculous rates, Dedmon must be brought back.
It’s really just that simple. If the fact that he was one of the only players to bring it throughout the entire playoff series isn’t enough, think about the Heat being out-boarded by nearly 100 in the Bucks series.
Yea, that should be enough.