Miami Heat Roundtable: To KZ Or Not To KZ Okpala… That’s The Question

Miami Heat: To KZ or Not to KZ Okpala… That’s the Question – Rich’s Take

To never KZ is the answer.

Rich Nurse’s Take (@followthepen)

When you think of the Justise Winslow pipe dream, the KZ Okpala fantasy could be filed as the not so silent partner. With the potential to be worse, according to which angle it’s viewed from.

Both men were touted above their talent. Winslow’s defensive skills were seen on the national stage in college, but so were the offensive deficiencies that made Coach Krzyzewski park him below the basket in the National Championship game.

Okpala came in lesser known to the masses, but the Miami Heat’s tendency for finding untapped gems gave hope. To the point where narratives were made without even seeing him play in the G-League.

Winslow syndrome, without the film.

What you do see with the film is a player with good defensive instincts. The problem is, the Heat are already a team of defenders—on paper.

None of which Okpala deserves court time over. If anything, Miami could use someone who also comes with a little offensive punch.

AllUCanHeat’s Jack Simone already gave the numbers, so let us skip those. Okpala is often offensively uncoordinated and not confident in his body or its perceived abilities.

Where we differ is that a better use for his spot would be for a contributor who may shake loose during the season. Not for anyone on the summer league roster.

That is what the two-way contracts and call-ups are for. The Heat already have seven players, 27-years-old or younger.

And Nine once they add the two-way contracts. The last thing a team needs when they have championship aspirations is another unproven player—young or old—on a standard contract.

As a matter of fact, they should subtract one. Sorry KZ.