Ranking the 15 most underrated players in Miami Heat history

Jun 19 2012; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat point guard Mario Chalmers (15)lays the ball up between Oklahoma City Thunder power forward Nick Collison (4) and James Harden (13) during the second half of game four in the 2012 NBA Finals at the American Airlines Arena. Miami won 104-98. Mandatory Credit: Larry W. Smith/Pool Photo via USA TODAY Sports /

6 of 15

Jae Crowder #99 of the Miami Heat reacts with Duncan Robinson #55, Jimmy Butler #22 and Kelly Olynyk #9 during the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images) /

10. Kelly Olynyk (2017-21)

Signing a four-year contract with the Miami Heat during the summer of 2017, the hope was that Kelly Olynyk could fill a much-needed void as a stretch-big. Looking back, it’s easy to see how much Olynyk was taken for granted, or overlooked, during his four seasons with the Heat. There were times when he fell in and out of the good graces of the coaching staff, times when he would start, and then other times when he would come off the bench. Most of that was due to his inconsistencies on the defensive end, but Olynyk was every bit the player Miami thought they were getting when he was signed.

During his first season with the Heat, Olynyk averaged 12 points, six rebounds, and three assists on 38 percent shooting from the field. That was statistically his best and most consistent season with the Heat but didn’t deviate from those numbers all that much throughout his tenure with the team.

Olynyk’s time with the Heat is often glossed over, in large part due to the fact it was somewhat of a dark time for the franchise. However, he was a quality player and during a time when the Heat made more than a few head-scratching signings, Olynyk wasn’t one of them.

Home/Heat All-Time Lists