Davion Mitchell is perfect for the Miami Heat, but perhaps more notably, he’s perfect for Erik Spoelstra. For years, Spoelstra and the Heat have employed a line of guards in the same mold: Hard-nosed defenders who can playmake but also thrive off the ball. Gabe Vincent. Mario Chalmers. Norris Cole. Mitchell looks like the ideal guy in that archetype.
Having a guy like Mitchell on board makes Spoelstra’s life easier, as it allows the Heat to play a more fluid brand of basketball, which he clearly wants to play. Miami is playing fast and loose, and Mitchell works perfectly for that style.
He’s an ideal Spoelstra point guard.
How good is Davion Mitchell for the Heat?
Though Vincent, Chalmers, and Cole were all fine players, it seems like Mitchell could take things to another level within the scope of the archetype that Spoelstra loves so much.
His stats through the first few games of Miami’s season are very impressive, and he fits in beautifully with what they are trying to accomplish on both sides of the ball.
In his first four games with the Heat this season, his first full year with the team after joining them via trade last season, he’s been a starter in each contest.
Mitchell is playing 27.2 minutes per contest (fifth in the NBA), averaging 8.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 8.3 assists while only turning the ball over 1.5 times. He’s shooting 45.5% from the floor and 23.1% from deep on 3.3 three-point attempts per contest.
In an ideal world, Mitchell’s efficiency would increase, as the Heat would love for him to be a legitimate three-point threat, but he still does his job at a very high level.
At just 27 years old, Mitchell also fits in with the timeline of the rest of the core, as he should be able to grow alongside Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro (as well as Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Kel’el Ware).
Few people expected the Heat to be good this season, but in their first few contests of the season, they look like they should be able to fight for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
Obviously, Mitchell still has a long way to go if he wants to prove that he can be a long-term piece with this Heat squad, but he’s off to an awfully good start.
And based on Spoeltra’s track record of point guards, he’s exactly what Miami likes to look for at that position.