How Darius Garland could have a Steve Nash-like impact under Erik Spoelstra
By Brennan Sims
The Miami Heat needs a whale. That's the narrative being pushed on the internet, at least. Of course, if one of Kevin Durant, LeBron James, or Donovan Mitchell becomes available, the Heat need to strike while the iron is hot. Or we could do this the Miami Heat way.
The Heat are known for getting the absolute most out of players. They've maximized talents like Caleb Martin, Gabe Vincent, and Max Strus. Those players had their best years with the Heat. Erik Spoelstra put them in a position to flourish, capitalizing on their strengths and scheming up plans that hid their weaknesses. There is another guard in Cleveland that may be available, and Spo could help this floor general have a Steve Nash-like career arc.
Darius Garland is a special offensive talent when he's running the show.
The Cleveland Cavaliers may be looking to break up the dynamic backcourt pairing of Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland. Galand's camp is steadfast on leaving Cleveland if Mitchell returns.
These two were a wonky fit due to their similar miniature size and the need to have the ball to create. The numbers don't display an ugly picture, though. They were +5.7 in over 1,500 minutes together on the floor in the regular season.
Garland contributed to these numbers by sacrificing. He was willing to play off-ball more and shoot catch-and-shoot jumpers. That's not his strong suit, as he only shot 35% on catch-and-shoot three-point attempts, but the willingness to change your game for the team's betterment screams Heat DNA.