The Miami Heat have quite a bit of talent on their hands. That’s not something that you could have said with as much confidence at this time last season.
Though not a ton further from where they were, with development and a few tweaks, the way the roster falls together now just seems lightyears ahead of where it was. One of those pieces that seems as though he might be ready to finally come into his own is KZ Okpala.
Shining for his country, Nigeria, in Olympic play, Okpala is now apart of the Miami Heat’s Summer League Festivities. He’s continuing to jump off the proverbial page at you too.
In fact, KZ has shown you something. If being totally honest about what being seen, KZ Okpala looks like he is very capable of filling a meaningful role for the Miami Heat right now.
The Miami Heat have quite a bit of talent at their disposal now. KZ Okpala is one of those pieces and looks ready to step in a fit a sizable role for Miami.
Throwing in a double-double in his Las Vegas Summer League debut on Sunday evening, 13 points and 11 boards, KZ really did a lot of everything. He defended, he hustled, he made good reads, he cut, he got out on the break, and most importantly, he took his shots.
Finishing with 18 attempts at the basket, you want him to be more efficient but hey, he took his chops. That isn’t where he’ll be able to shine or help the big club right now though anyways.
With his size, with his length, with his athleticism, and with the flat-out defensive stopping abilities he highlighted on the stage that was the Olympics, he can help Miami right now as a defender, hustle-guy, and all-around rotational role player.
When Okpala stood next to Bol Bol, a guy standing a 7’2″ and though shorter, he wasn’t that much shorter than he was. The difference between KZ and most other guys with that size profile though is that he is a true wing, that moves like a guard, and has the fluid athleticism of the most athletic small forwards.
There is no reason why the Miami Heat shouldn’t be able to make some sort of use of that kind of ability. That’s why you have to think that he’s capable of filling a role right now for them.