Miami Heat: Basic blueprint for Omer Yurtseven’s short-term success

Miami Heat fan lore versus actual talent has been a serious six-year debate surrounding the team. This summer, however, looks like one where talk and skill are actually going to meet on the same corner.

Unfortunately, not in the form of KZ Okpala, but that can be addressed elsewhere. It is not a rare occurrence in Heat Land to see a potential 10th or 11th man on the roster, receive infinite praise for potential.

It is also not a new revelation to see said hype not translate into on-court accomplishments. Something about Omer Yurtseven feels different.

Perhaps it is the confidence of asking for an option not to be picked up, in order to play himself into a two-year deal. Whatever it is, Yurtseven seems like a legit fit.

Let us not get overly ambitious though. Summer League has been too small of a sample size to accurately gauge how high Yurtseven’s ceiling can be.

However, if the 7-footer can give the Miami Heat a bit of himself and on-par portions of two recent Heat centers, he could show immediate spurts of what Pat Riley calls the perfect complement to Bam Adebayo.

Omer Yurtseven has shown steady flashes in Summer League, but any regular season minutes can be maximized by looking to two former Miami Heat centers.

Be clear, the probability of Yurtseven being thrust into regular season games will be high, due to rest, injuries, foul trouble, and health and safety protocols. Those things are inevitable.

But how can he turn sparse minutes into contributions? By sticking to what he does best on the offensive end.

Whether it is using his base to seal and pin in the post or working his below the free-throw line jumper. Both spaces have seen Yurtseven do damage to the defense when his game is rolling.

This is where Meyers Leonard comes into play. Sure, he has been the name never to be mentioned since his inflammatory remarks.

However, Yurtseven has the pick and pop ability to space the floor in a similar fashion. During his lone full season with the Heat, Leonard put up a 41.4 percent average from three and on a healthy 2.5 attempts per game.

Throughout the course of two Summer Leagues, Yurtseven has shot 45.5 percent on 5.5 attempts (two games) and 27.3 percent on 3.7 attempts (three games). Less opportunities means tightening up to a Leonard-type efficiency.

The defensive end brings another name Heat fans dread. Yet, Hassan Whiteside averaged 8.4 defense rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game in five years in Miami.

Over the course of being locked in and aloof, evenly disbursed. The amount of time is not comparable, but Yurtseven has been showing the same paint-protector potential, by grabbing nine defensive boards a game and swatting the same 2.4 shots.

Heat Nation does not have an affinity for Leonard or Whiteside, but if Yurtseven can continuely harness the good parts of their games, even his potential floor will be a success.