Davion Mitchell emerged as one of the Miami Heat's best players down the stretch last year. Even when disaster was striking, Mitchell continued to show promise as a potential building block for the future. Now that he's re-signed, the Heat need to ensure that he's used in the correct and most effective role possible.
With how the Heat's roster is currently constructed, the best possible role for Mitchell is almost certainly starting opposite Tyler Herro in the backcourt. At this point, it would be surprising if that wasn't his initial role for the Heat this season.
And the reasoning surrounding that idea is simple. The Heat need to "protect" Herro on the defensive end, and Mitchell would excel in such a role. With such a strong defensive player in the backcourt, the Heat would also then have the flexibility to start newly acquired Norman Powell (if they wanted to play small and fast) alongside Andrew Wiggins and Bam Adebayo.
Or, if the Heat want to play big, they could start Mitchell, Herro, Wiggins, Bam, and Kel'el Ware while bringing Powell off the bench as a super sixth man.
Mitchell's super power is giving the Heat versatility
Whether Mitchell is ready for an everyday starting spot remains to be seen. However, it is clear that Mitchell does give the Heat some much-needed versatility and flexibility with their lineups. And whether Mitchell starts for the entire year or not, there will be opportunities for him to provide plenty of value to the Heat.
That's the biggest reason why it was important for Miami to re-sign Mitchell.
Even though he may not be the table-setting playmaker that the Heat need in the backcourt to help take pressure off Herro, what Mitchell is able to do on the defensive end of the floor is almost equally as important.
Mitchell won't keep opposing teams from "hunting" Herro on the defensive end of the floor, but he can help shield some of that off. And that's always been his strength. That's not a huge revelation.
Is there another leap coming from Mitchell?
Heading into this first full season as a Heat player, you can't help but wonder if there's another developmental step to come with his offensive game. Because if there is, it could completely change the ceiling for the (projected) starting backcourt.
Especially if Mitchell can continue to make strides as a playmaker, he could help level up the Heat's offense in areas they aren't anticipating.
Either way, it's pretty clear that Mitchell is going to play a big role for the Heat this season, and his value to the team is much higher than many are currently imagining.