NBA Miami Heat

Backup SG Is Now the Primary Focus For the Miami Heat

Fresh Videos

By @outofboundsjay

January 25, 2015; Steve Mitchell; Dwyane Wade

Steve Mitchell- USA Today Sports

At the beginning of the regular season, one of the weakest points in the Miami Heat’s rotation was the frontcourt position. However, the arrival of Hassan Whiteside changed all that. With the trade deadline fast approaching, the Heat now have a new position to focus on, and that is the backup shooting guard spot behind Dwyane Wade.

The Heat initially had signed Shannon Brown to fill this role, but for whatever reason, Brown wasn’t able to hold up his end of the bargain and was released for a roster spot to sign Whiteside (obviously a great decision). Coach Erik Spoelstra elected to have Mario Chalmers play a majority of those backup minutes, but his productivity in that department has steadily gone downhill. Chalmers just isn’t meant to be purely a scorer on the court, no matter what he says to the media.

With Wade’s injury history, one faulty move could have the Heat looking at a roster without a single player being able to play the shooting guard role competently. Outside of Chalmers, Danny Granger and Norris Cole have also found themselves playing minutes as the backup shooting guard, but again, the productivity just hasn’t been there, which has Spoelstra still looking for answers.

The only relieve the Heat will be able to find at this point is in the trade or free agent market. The NBA is still a guards league, and there are plenty of viable options, especially with teams releasing and willing to trade players left and right. The playoffs are still a realistic option, but the Heat are crazy if they think going into the playoffs without more depth behind Wade is a sustainable recipe for success.

Jared Doyle is a Miami Heat writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @outofboundsjay, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.

Share Tweet
Trending Now on