Miami Heat: One Of The Options Is Already There And The Others Fit The Culture
The same question marks about availability haunt John Wall. The Houston Rockets ended the discourse about the Kentucky product’s future by buying him out and freeing him up to go to the Los Angeles Clippers.
But the last time Wall played over 2,000 regular-season minutes dates back to the 2016-2017 season. In four seasons, Wall suited up for just 113 regular-season games.
Despite the tantalizing prospect of Wall’s explosive offense, decisive passing, and athletic heights he once boasted, Wall finds himself in the same camp as Irving. Both are figments, meaning promises of something that history says is behind them.
Better Free Agent Pursuits
Tyus Jones showed real playoff grit for the Memphis Grizzlies, setting assist-to-turnover ratio records the past two seasons. He can move the ball, keep the offense churning out points efficiently, and sign for a reasonable sum.
The Heat could bring back Victor Oladipo on another prove-it deal. Oladpio showed he could still be a defensive ace, while offensively playing off-ball and around the premier talent on Miami.
He will also have a healthy offseason to prepare for the first time in two years. If the Heat are looking to move bench pieces like Duncan Robinson, Max Strus, Caleb Martin, or even Tyler Herro to try and create a package for another big player, Lou Williams is an unrestricted free agent.
The two-time Sixth Man Of The Year is a microwave scorer who could be the jolt the Heat need of the pine. Yes, some will look at his age, but scorers score, you wouldn’t need him to play 25 minutes a night, and he didn’t play a ton last season.
Joe Ingles is also out there. He shoots a shade over 40 percent for his career in the regular season and just under it in the playoffs.
He is a big, rangy, and scrappy wing defender and can find space off-ball to knock down shots. These are all sound options that will make the team better without destroying the team in a moving-heaven-and-earth type scenario.
More importantly, these players, by and large, have proved reliable throughout their careers. That’s more than you can say for Wall or Irving—to be totally honest.