PG: Mario Chalmers/Shabazz Napier
SG: Dwyane Wade/Josh Richardson/Tyler Johnson/Zoran Dragic
SF: Luol Deng/Justise Winslow/James Ennis/
PF: Chris Bosh/Josh McRoberts/Udonis Haslam
C: Hassan Whiteside/Chris Anderson
2015 Free Agents
F Michael Beasley (team option)
PG Goran Dragic (player option)
What They Did On Draft Night
Drafted Duke wing Justise Winslow 10th overall
The Heat benefited from the draft falling favorably to them, getting a perfect fit for their culture and needs. Justise Winslow isn't likely to become the future star some suggest, but he can be a high-level role player on a championship level team. Early on in his career, Winslow will probably not be a consistent threat from three-point range or creating his own shot starting out, but in Miami he can play off their other creators in transition and off the ball, until his offensive game develops more overall consistency. Where Miami will really benefit from Winslow is on the defensive end; Luol Deng (if he returns) is the closest thing they have to a lockdown wing defender so this year, which is a pretty important part of a contending team. Despite some of the noise in his shooting numbers and offensive creation ability, Winslow has always been and likely will always be an ace wing defender. He is athletic with very good lateral agility and strength, but most importantly Winslow is committed and focused on that end. On a different team, one looking for a number one or two option, Winslow might disappoint. However, in this situation, with potentially Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, Goran Dragic, and Josh McRoberts all there to move the ball and get Winslow some easy shots, he should excel as a defender/hustle player with potential for more offense in a couple of years.
Drafted Tennessee shooting guard Josh Richardson 40th overall
The Heat got another great fit for their team in the second round with Josh Richardson, who is sort of a older, lower upside version of Winslow. He is a solid, likely league-average NBA shooter that is also a good, committed defensive player that has enough ball skills and passing ability to be a secondary playmaker in a second unit. That ability makes him a little more valuable than the average good, not great shooting/defending 3-and-D because when he catches the ball, he is a threat to penetrate and pass in certain situations, instead of just having to shoot or move the ball along. This will really work in Miami, that loves manipulating defenses with passing and dribble-drives.
What To Do Next?
Miami's first priority should be retaining the services of Dragic. Beyond that they don't have much cap flexibility to make any free agent moves beyond minimum deals, but they could get back a contributor by dealing Mario Chalmers or Shabazz Napier for another position in need of depth. Chalmers is an expiring deal so he should be easy to deal to a team looking for a back-up point guard that can shoot. Targeting another backup big man or wing would make sense.
A bonus trade sure to never happen
Mario Chalmers and Zoran Gragic to the Hornets for Marvin Williams
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