Opening up the Miami Heat mailbag…
“Aside from a star player, what type of player would be a valuable addition to the Heat, and who might that player be?”
To be clear, the Heat need more than just a star player this offseason. Miami’s lack of depth was exposed this past season and the edges of the roster need attention, with or without a major addition.
In terms of a “type of player,” the Heat should look at defense. Maybe that’s surprising, considering they finished the season ninth in defensive rating and 21st in offensive rating. But role players don’t elevate offenses from the bottom 10 to the top 10 – that’s what stars are for.
But even being ninth defensively isn’t exactly elite. The difference between the NBA’s second-best defense - the Orlando Magic – and the Heat at nine is the same difference between the Heat and the no. 20 Dallas Mavericks. Meaning: The Heat have a long ways to go before they can be considered an elite defense.
That will take adding better perimeter defenders and more size. The midseason addition of Davion Mitchell was a big step, but the Heat need more.
Look at the teams remaining in the playoffs. They don’t hand off the perimeter defensive assignment to one player, they have multiple options. The Thunder have Lu Dort, Alex Caruso and Cason Wallace. The Timberwolves have Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels and Nickeill Alexander-Walker. The Knicks have Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby and Josh Hart. The Pacers have Andrew Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith.
The Heat have Haywood Highsmith. If they re-sign Mitchell, they’ll still need at least one more high-level perimeter defender.
As far as what else the Heat can use: A backup point guard who can run the second unit, a backup big who can preferably play with either Bam Adebayo or Kel’el Ware, and another bench scorer/shooter, particularly if Alec Burks walks in free agency or if the Heat trade away Duncan Robinson this summer.