Miami Heat found future rotation players amongst roster rentals
Roster options for next year’s Miami Heat team should include James Johnson and Wayne Ellington.
In a season where rebuilding is the not-so-underlined mission, the Miami Heat find themselves in a familiar position that followed them after the Shaquille O’Neal years through the course of the Big Three era. Regardless of if it was called a retool or a rebuild, the organization has trotted out a roster full of one to two year rentals to surround their staples.
This season is no different.
Let us assume that the Heat decide against moving Goran Dragic or either of the four young guns, Justise Winslow, Hassan Whiteside, Tyler Johnson and Josh Richardson. Insert a cheaper hometown hero–like Udonis Haslem–who said he wants to play at least two more seasons during this past offseason, Willie Reed and the burden of Josh McRoberts’ player option. Bringing the Miami roster to eight players, including five who currently take up active rotation spots.
Add a first round draft pick and a player to fill Chris Bosh’s eventual financial void and suddenly the Heat are low on openings.
However two others have not only made bids to make South Beach their home, but have shown they deserve a chance to contribute minutes.
Nov 30, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Miami Heat guard Wayne Ellington (2) and forward James Johnson (16) defend against Denver Nuggets forward Wilson Chandler (21) in the second quarter at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
James Johnson has had his fair share of detractors from the beginning of his Miami tenure, and rightfully so. The start of this season saw him put up more negative plus/minus numbers than not, alongside a player efficiency rating of nine. Since then, the backup power forward has proved his worth by pushing that production stat to 15.8–slightly above the league average of 15.
Over the last 10 games, his hustle has him pulling down five rebounds a game, averaging 13 points and getting at least one block and steal per contest. Bench play that any team could appreciate, especially a Miami roster short on quality bodies at the four position.
The Sun Sentinel’s Ira Winderman tends to feel the same way:
As for James Johnson, I agree that it could benefit the Heat to continue to sell the benefits of remaining in South Florida. No matter how the roster is reconfigured, his energy would appear a fit with any rebuild. Of the rentals, he could be the one who most entices with a follow-up offer, although we also only now are seeing the possibilities of Wayne Ellington.
Wayne Ellington’s shot has been there since his days at the University of North Carolina. The Heat received a dose of it last season when he dropped 26 points, on them, after going 7-of-9 from the three-point line.
Now, the designated shooter is averaging 16 points in three games with 59 percent of his field goal attempts and 56 percent of his points coming from 24-feet and beyond. However, the surprising part has been his defense.
Keeping up his two steals per game will go a long way in showing Erik Spoelstra that he can do other things besides be the type of one-dimensional player the coach does not like to put on the floor. Johnson’s defensive field goal percentage drops him into the mold as well, as he holds opponents to a shooting percentage 11.2 notches below their norm.
With Ellington already locked up for next season, Miami would be wise to latch onto Johnson in an early effort to solidify their 2017-18 bench mob.
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