3 former Miami Heat players that are thriving early in 2022-23

The Miami Heat haven’t gotten off to their hottest start, sitting at just 4-7 in the standings at the moment. Needing to figure out how to be their best selves every night or at least, the best version of themselves, they continue to tinker and tweak as they progress through the early part of the year.

Though they are not doing the greatest themselves, that notion certainly doesn’t apply to all who have ever been associated with the Miami Heat. And in fact, a few former players are currently thriving more than others.

Let’s take a look at three of them.

Justise Winslow – Portland Trail Blazers

Justise Winslow had a really wonky tenure in Miami. Drafted three slots before Devin Booker, that would always be a tough thing to live past after about two years of seeing them both on the NBA hardwood.

Finding what his ultimate niche in the league would be near the end of his time with the Miami Heat, that would be the point forward role that allows him to take advantage of his ballhandling, playmaking, and straight-line drive ability as the main ballhandler on offense, while also being able to help out, pretty much, anywhere on defense with his size and versatility there.

Though only currently averaging 7.5 points 4.5 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game across 10 games in about 26 minutes per game and on just under 27 percent from range, Winslow is finding a way to be a valuable member of Chauncey Billups’ Blazers rotation with his all-around versatility, timely playmaking, and defensive chops.

3 Former Miami Heat Players That Are Thriving Early In 2022-23 – Kelly Olynyk

Victor Oladipo has yet to play a game for the Miami Heat this season. And after playing in just 12 games total since coming over from Houston in 2020-21, there is, reportedly, no timetable for his return yet in this current season.

That’s not good, not good at all. While that is extremely vital to the Miami Heat’s relevance this season, his current status isn’t relevant, at all, here.

Oladipo, himself, is relevant in this equation though because in order to get him to Miami in the first place, the Heat sent Avery Bradley and, you guessed it, Kelly Olynyk, to the Rockets. And after becoming a free agent that offseason, KO would sign a three-year deal with the Detroit Pistons for $37.2 million dollars.

Kelly Olynyk – Utah Jazz

As Utah kicked off a teardown, amongst the trades of both Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell, Olynyk was traded to Utah from Detroit in exchange for the since-extended, Bojan Bogdanovic.

Just like the Utah Jazz though this season after many thought they would be putrid, Olynyk has proceeded to shockingly remind people that he can really ball. Never wanting to see him leave the Miami Heat in the first place, personally, it’s the cool thing to say now to point at what he’s doing as if you were always Team KO.

Though the coolness is another fact that’s neither here nor there, the reason why it’s “cool” is important and that’s because of what he is doing to help the thriving Utah Jazz that many left for dead after shipping off their two biggest stars and best players.

Averaging 12.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.2 assists on a whopping 56.8 percent from three-point range, Olynyk’s size, versatility, and shooting are coming in extremely handy for a Utah team currently sitting at 10-3 and atop the Western Conference.

3 Former Miami Heat Players That Are Thriving Early In 2022-23 – Goran Dragic

A forever fan favorite, this guy will always be loved and adored in Miami, no matter where he plays his professional ball.

Goran Dragic – Chicago Bulls

Shipped off to Toronto in the whole Kyle Lowry deal, Goran Dragic had a very rocky road to begin last season. Playing in only five games for the team across the US’s northern border, most of The Dragon’s action would come with the Brooklyn Nets last season.

Thankfully, with him being able to get out of there for obvious reasons, Dragic now represents the Chicago Bulls. And you know what, he’s representing them well this season thus far!

Averaging 10 points, nearly two boards, and almost three and a half dimes per game in just 19 minutes across 13 contests, that’s some production from the veteran with a decade and a half of NBA experience under his belt.

From an advanced stats perspective, his Per 36 averages of about 19 points, four rebounds, and six assists are among the best of his career. What that means is that though he may not give you all that he once could over an elongated game anymore, perhaps, he can be just as effective, impactful, and offensively explosive as he’s ever been in short bursts with proper management.

Again, that’s a “perhaps”, because you never know what he still has to give or what the Bulls may ask of him as the season progresses. But as far as what they have asked of the former Miami Heat microwave this season, he’s answering and delivering.

And speaking of delivering, it’s worth looking at what he’s doing compared to the guy whom the Miami Heat, effectively, chose over him. And ironically enough, this isn’t just a thought emanating from this direction.

Interesting. Very interesting, indeed.

Either way it stands, the Miami Heat, themselves, have some work to do as they look to get better with time across this season. As far as these three former Miami Heat guys though, they look to be doing just fine.

Heck, at least, one of them could help the Miami Heat out right now (Hey KO…), but you always love to see some of your favorite players thriving, no matter where they are. And these three seem to be doing just that.