Miami Heat: Is Andray Blatche a Good Fit?

Andray Blatche is a NBA free agent this summer but has been keeping himself in playing shape as part of the Philippines’ men’s national team in the FIBA World Cup. Following the team’s ouster this weekend, a sports reporter covering the team tweeted out the following:

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It’s not a stretch to assume that Manotoc meant “negotiate” in his message, implying that Blatche and the Heat would be working out a deal to bring the talented big man to Miami.

Days later and neither the player or the team have released any confirmation that Manotoc’s message was anything more than an assumption on his part.

Given the tried-and-tested motto that where there’s smoke, there’s fire, perhaps Blatche is in fact poised to join a Heat team that is retooling after the departure of LeBron James; could he be a valued contributor, given his skillset and history of off-court behavior issues?

Most definitely.

A look at what Blatche brings to any team; he’s 6’11”, smoother than he looks and is pretty versatile for his size. He finishes well at the rim (converting on 209-of-353 shots in the paint last season, good for nearly 60 percent) but can hit the mid- and long-range shot if needed.

A look at this highlight reel from the 2012-13 season shows his well-developed offensive repertoire:

What he won’t bring; reliable defense, rebounding or rim protection. Now, this isn’t that Blatche can’t provide these things but that he simply hasn’t done that with any consistency throughout his career. He clearly has the size, footwork and length to be a solid if unspectacular defender. So how would that play out in Miami, a team that is committed to defense as one of its core principles?

Part of how Blatche potential improvement is how he’d be used. If he entered the lineup with Chris Bosh on the floor, Blatche would likely play the center position and Bosh would slide down to his natural forward spot. This lineup could create matchup problems on the offensive end and be extremely effective.

Defensively, Blatche would have to be a much more dependable shot-blocker (he’s averaged less than a block per game throughout his nine-year career … not good).

However, if he plays the forward position (and gives Bosh an occasional breather) with Chris Andersen left as a rim protector, Blatche’s inconsistent defense wouldn’t be as much of an issue.

Blatche could also be used in hybrid lineups with Josh McRoberts, giving the Heat much more size than they’ve had during the “Big 3” era. Either with Bosh or Andersen, a unit like this would bring versatility and high-percentage shooting to coach Erik Spoelstra’s offense.

So his skills would definitely be a plus for Miami; how would his perceived behavioral issues and brushes with the law impact his tenure with the Heat?

Again, the answer is surprisingly well. Miami has had a long history of reclamation projects with troubled pasts, either physical or behavioral. Just last season, Miami brought in Greg Oden and Michael Beasley … one from each side of the spectrum. While neither was immensely successful, both careers were kept alive by the Heat, even if for just one season (Oden’s health issues and recent arrest will likely end his career, while Beasley remains unsigned).

Add them to the list of other players given a chance by Miami (like Udonis Haslem, Isaac Austin, and the very successful case of Andersen) and there’s a proven track record of helping players stay focused.

Blatche’s criminal behavior, extensive as it was, seems to be all in the past. And while his commitment to the Philippines national team has been mocked by some, his play through five games in the FIBA World Cup had been great, averaging  21.2 points per contest, albeit with a surprising-low field goal percentage of 44.2 percent.

(On a side note, perhaps it’s merely a coincidence but Spoelstra’s connection to the Philippines might give him an inside track on Blatche’s attitude in the FIBA tournament)

This all seems like a no-brainer, then, with a relationship between Blatche and the Heat being mutually beneficial. But, as Sun Sentinel reporter Ira Winderman pointed out this week, salary could be the ultimate sticking point.

The Heat, as per Winderman, can only offer the veteran minimum, a significant salary cut for a player who opted out of his contract with the Brooklyn Nets. As he states, signing the big man “would be up to Blatche, a willingness to buy into the Heat system and accept a minimal contract,” but adds, “But you do have to wonder about Blatche being forced to wait this late in the process, whether there isn’t more at play than salary or role.”

Since neither party has confirmed any mutual interest, one can only guess at what more could be “at play.” But if Miami is looking to be a serious threat, a versatile player like Blatche could add the needed depth and skillset to challenge the top contenders in the Eastern Conference.