The Miami Heat's decision not to sign (or trade for) a third rotational big man during the offseason continues to haunt the team. But once December 15 comes, the Heat will be able to solve the team's organizational offseason whiff.
All season long, the Heat have been average, at best, on the boards. When Bam Adebayo wasn't in the lineup, they were downright dreadful. And overall, there have been at least two games that were lost in large part due to the team's rebounding woes down the stretch.
If the Heat want to make a genuine run to the playoffs this season and be anything but an afterthought in the Eastern Conference, they're going to have to add some size to the equation. Unless, of course, the Heat believes Vlad Goldin could work his way to the point where he could factor into the rotation more during the second half of the season.
However, considering he hasn't logged a regular-season minute for the Heat so far this season, that may be a stretch.
Realistically, Goldin is a project that may not even see the floor until next season.
Why December 15 is a date to watch for the Heat
Under that assumption, there's even greater pressure for the Heat to find a solution to their bad frontcourt depth woes from the outside. Once December 15 rolls around, there will be many more players available to be traded. It's also the point of the season in which the Heat could sign a player whose pro-rated contract wouldn't put the team over the tax.
Of course, the big question is whether the right player will find its way onto the Heat's radar. After all, the Heat did give a training camp invite to Precious Achiuwa. That didn't work out, and he's now with the Sacramento Kings.
So if they were banking on continuity, and perhaps bringing him back on December 15, that ship has now sailed.
There will be plenty of other options for the Heat. It's just about finding the right player who will be able to fit in on the fly. In the Heat's new offense, which is predicated on rhythm and cohesion, that could be difficult.
But, at this point, the Heat may not have any other option.
I can't imagine the Heat not making an addition to the frontcourt before the NBA Trade Deadline. At this point, it probably has to come sooner rather than later, with that December 15 date being a big one on the calendar.