9 Players the Miami Heat gave up on way too early
Looking back at the history of the Miami Heat, there are several players that perhaps were given up on too soon.
Many people may not know this but the Miami Heat is actually one of the younger franchises in the league. Founded in 1988, the Heat is only roughly 35 years old. Despite that, and interestingly, the Heat is also one of the most storied and accomplished franchises in such a short time.
From the early years of Rony Seikaly to the Alonzo Morning and Tim Hardaway Jr. years to the semi-modern era that included the likes of Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Chris Bosh, and then now Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo – the Heat has had plenty of great players to flow in and out of the franchise.
As is the case for nearly every other franchise in the league, where there are big hits there are also generally big misses. And one of the worst feelings for a franchise has to be when they give up on a player before he blossoms.
Players the Miami Heat gave up on too early
Over the course of the Heat’s history, there are several players that could fit the mold of players given up on too soon. Let’s explore the nine best examples of players the Heat gave up on early, beginning with one of the most recent.
9. Precious Achiuwa, traded in 2021
Two offseasons ago, after his rookie season, the Miami Heat elected to include Precious Achiuwa in the sign-and-trade deal for Kyle Lowry. Considering how much Precious has grown as a player in Toronto coupled with the struggles that the Heat has had in trying to find the right frontcourt mate to pair with Bam Adebayo and how Lowry has now fallen out of grace in Miami, you can’t help but wonder how this team looks right now if they had never made that move.
Theoretically, the Heat would have their potential long-term answer next to Bam (or at least a better option than they have at the moment) and some added wiggle without Lowry’s contract on the books.
Since his departure from Miami, Achiuwa has pretty much doubled his overall production and shown the ability to hit 3-point shots (or at least a developing ability to do so).