Erik Spoelstra, Miami Heat
Erik Spoelstra, Miami Heat
The Miami Heat have enjoyed an interesting season. From a new style of play, to some impressive individual performances. Nevertheless, the lack of depth at some key positions has hurt Erik Spoelstra’s team.
As such, the Heat may be aggressive in revamping the current roster during the summer. According to Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley, a move to acquire Nick Richards in free agency would be a strong start.
“When Miami starts Kel’el Ware or entrusts him with a starter’s workload, it exposes the nonexistent nature of its depth behind him,” Buckley wrote. ‘A quality backup big could quietly go a long way for this group, and Richards is one of the better reserve centers you’ll find. He plays within himself and gets busy around the basket on both ends.”
Richards would provide reliable depth at the center position. At 6-foot-11, he boasts the necessary size to be a deterrent in the paint and a strong rebounder on both sides of the floor.
The 28-year-old big man has played in 48 games this season, averaging 5.8 points and 5.1 rebounds per outing. Furthermore, Richards’ rim-running skill set would fit in well with Spoelstra’s new-look high-tempo run-and-gun offense, while his explosiveness would give Miami another above-the-rim threat.
Richards is in the final year of his current contract. He will become an unrestricted free agent in the summer.
Heat’s Bam Adebayo Frustrated With Situation
When speaking to the media following the Heat’s 136-111 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on March 23, Bam Adebayo shared his frustration with the franchise’s current position in the Eastern Conference.
Miami currently sits 9th in the East and will compete in the play-in tournament, in the hope of progressing to the playoffs.
“I don’t want to be in the f—king play-in,” Adebayo said. “So, every game I’m going to try to go out there and do the best I can to carry this team and force our way out of that.”
Miami is currently 2.5 games behind the Atlanta Hawks, who hold the sixth seed: the final guaranteed playoff spot. With eight games left in their regular-season schedule, the Heat could mathematically still directly qualify for the postseason. However, other results would need to go their way.
As such, all Miami can do is control its own production and see how things shake out down the stretch.
Heat Have To Improve The Roster
Right now, the Heat have two options: tear it down and enter a rebuild, or find ways of strengthening the current team during the summer. Adebayo won’t be content with being part of a mid-tier roster forever. The same can be said about Tyler Herro, too.
That does not sound like somebody who is very happy with his team right now,” Wes Goldberg and David Ramil of Locked On Heat said of Abebayo’s recent comments. “If Bam feels like I’ve got to play 40 minutes a night just to not make the play-in… you do got to wonder if he eventually starts looking around.”
Adding someone like Richards would be a good start for Miami. However, they also need a point guard and a go-to scorer. Pat Riley must get creative this summer, or risk the Heat becoming mired in mid-conference mediocrity.