During his time in Milwaukee, the one piece that helped put the Giannis Antetokounmpo builds over the top to finally win an NBA Championship was Jrue Holiday. Sure, there were other aspects of the Bucks' championship team that contributed to getting over the hump, but Holiday was the glue that helped put everything together during that Finals run.
If the Miami Heat is going to replicate some of that same success for Giannis, it's important that they find a path toward adding that level of player. Interestingly enough, there's an argument to be made that Giannis' next Holiday may already be on the Heat's roster.
Enter Davion Mitchell.
Their career arcs have been quite different, but Mitchell does a lot of what made Holiday successful during his prime years. Perhaps Mitchell would be considered a Holiday-lite more than anything, but the similarities should give Heat fans some promise that he could have a similar level of impact this season.
Davion Mitchell could play a key role to the Heat's success this season
Despite his career ups and downs, there's always one thing that Mitchell could always be counted on. Defense. Mitchell is one of the best point-of-attack defenders in the league. That mirrors a lot of what made Holiday so good during his prime years.
But the biggest difference between the two is what Holiday has consistently been able to do on the offensive end of the floor. Mitchell has had moments of promise, but has not consistently been that level of two-way player.
If that changes this season, though, it could completely alter the way this Heat team is viewed. Many people have criticized the Heat and limited their ceiling heading into this first season with Giannis because they don't necessarily have a dynamic guard on paper.
But if Mitchell can make another leap in his development, that all changes. And with the work that he's been putting in this summer, there's a reason to believe that such a jump in his game could be coming.
Davion Mitchell is about to have the best season of his career
In fact, over the last year and a half that Mitchell has been in the Heat's system, he's already made strides in his game that have been grossly overlooked. And coming off the best season of his career thus far, in which he averaged nine points and seven assists on 40 percent shooting from 3-point range, there are signs that he could be in for a big season.
Even more so considering that he'll now be playing alongside Giannis.
Mitchell could be in line for a truly breakout year next to Giannis, and if he can even slightly resemble the role that Holiday played for the Bucks in Milwaukee, there's reason to believe that the Heat will be in great hands this upcoming season.
Mitchell is not Holiday, but if he can play a similar role next to Giannis in Miami this season, perhaps the Heat are further ahead on their road to a championship than most are willing to admit.
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