The Miami Heat have interesting decisions before them. While some of those decisions will come down to the decisions of the subjects at hand, Russell Westbrook among others in example, there is a part to be played by the Miami Heat in it all.
While you assume that they will have interest in guys like Westbrook and some others, what do the Miami Heat actually want to do with their newly found roster spots and cap after sending Dewayne Dedmon away for nothing except cash?
They only have that “space” remaining. And with that notion, it all leads to one question and that is this.
What do they want to do with those spots? Where should they even start?
Should they seek to add a potentially high-impact guy or should they seek to add another guy that fills a need, perhaps helping them out in the shooting department? Or better yet, should they seek to add depth to their core of bigs?
There are so many questions. But before answers are given, let’s briefly look at it all.
Miami Heat Must Strategically Attack The ‘NBA Buyout Market’
When you think of the guys that will likely be out there, at the top of the list, again, is Russell Westbrook. Should they seek to add him, a potentially still dynamic player or a guy like Terrence Ross, someone that could help them in the shooting department?
A guy like Will Barton also comes to mind as well there after he is out of Washington. But then there are other areas of need too.
Should they attack it by adding another power forward or big man for depth or even—allocate that spot to Orlando Robinson, who will see his two-way games run out here shortly? Here’s what they should do though.
It’s actually a situation where you take a player-by-player approach on both fronts while trying to help yourself wherever you can. That probably means splitting the baby, going for one perimeter guy and one big.
If Russell Westbrook is available and even for all of his warts in the past few seasons, you have to take a serious look at him. This is because he’s still a future Hall Of Fame caliber player that’s still capable of changing the dynamic of a game at any moment for you with his remaining elite athleticism.
And while some will take that notion to task by pointing back to the Miami Heat’s need for improved outside shooting, Westbrook can, not only, add what he adds from the relentless attacking perspective but can drastically help the shooters that you already have get better looks than they have all season.
Miami Heat Must Make The Most Out Of All Their Options
While you aren’t taking a chance on a shooting new guy, what you’re doing by adding a guy that can penetrate and draw attention to the middle of the floor is strengthening your ability to attack the paint while also, hopefully, simultaneously rejuvenating the shooting that you already have.
As far as the big man position goes, that should also be player-by-player, but has some of that new guy—old guy dynamic to it as well. If there’s a guy out there that they deem to be more effective or can be more effective than Robinson is or has been for them, then you grab him.
But if the guy out there projects as even or less than Robinson, you, simply, upgrade O-Rob’s deal. There’s a simple explanation there too, as he’s your own guy, you can, simultaneously, continue to develop him while maximizing his usefulness to winning now, and if there isn’t any difference in the impact in the first place, the previous two factors are said difference.
So, while it would still be interesting to see where the Miami Heat decide to go in this buyout market, this would probably be one of the more effective approaches.