Miami Heat: There Should Only Be Two Options For Final Roster Spot
The Miami Heat are now up to 14 players for the active roster. After officially bringing back Udonis Haslem for his 19th season, they have one regular roster spot remaining, as they can have a maximum of 15.
The signing of Udonis Haslem now unlocks the rest of the Heat's summer. Now that they have 14 players under standard contract they can begin signing players to Exhibit 10 contracts. That allows them to fill their camp roster and also create a pipeline to their G League affiliate.
— Ira Winderman (@IraHeatBeat) August 16, 2021
With that though, you look to the reporting of Ira Winderman, of the South Florida Sun Sentinel, where he makes an interesting point. After locking their roster up to a point, at least and with 14 current players in tow, the Miami Heat may now begin to build and flesh out their developmental program and “pipeline” for the coming season.
That leads right to the topic at hand though, as there are only two real options that should be considered for that 15th and final roster spot. The first one is a guy that could find himself as a key member and leader of their Sioux Falls developmental squad.
The Miami Heat have almost filled up the roster, unlocking an ability to build out the developmental pipeline. Who should get the final regular roster spot though?
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The first option, the smartest from this perspective, and the most efficient move is to give the final regular season roster spot to Summer League standout, Marcus Garrett. Standing 6’5″ and able to man either guard spot comfortably, Garrett has really shown his grit, his versatility, and the fact that he has some Culture about him throughout the Summer League circuit.
An award-winning defensive machine, Garrett would currently provide as much or more than any guy that the Miami Heat might sign to fill that last roster spot while still nurturing him to maximize his future potential, by also still keeping with the developmental path that the Miami Heat assuredly want to keep the electric prospect on. It would also afford them the ability to roster two more guys with the two-way slots… say two more big point guards in Javonte Smart and DeJon Deeky Jarreau.
The second option would be to keep it open. This would allow the Heat to maintain flexibility.
That flexibility would then be maintained throughout the season, waiting to be used if they need to make an in-season trade or pickup. There are sure to be buy-outs, players waived in other fashions, and guys to hit the trade block.
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It’s much simpler than the first reason, but that’s the only logical second option for the final regular roster spot. While that or either signing Marcus Garrett, to keep Smart and Jarreau as the actual two-ways, are the only two logical options for the final roster spot as a whole.