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Miami Heat: 2016 Offseason Grades

By Gerald Bourguet

Mar 22, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (3) against the New Orleans Pelicans during the fourth quarter of a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Heat defeated the Pelicans 113-99. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 22, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (3) against the New Orleans Pelicans during the fourth quarter of a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Heat defeated the Pelicans 113-99. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
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Miami Heat
Jan 17, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Dion Waiters (3) reacts after a play against the Miami Heat during the fourth quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

Waiters Island In South Beach

Speaking of acquisitions that feel hollow in the wake of everything Miami lost this summer, here’s hoping that South Beach is ready for a heavy dose of Waiters Island! With Dwyane Wade gone, it’ll be a toss-up between Tyler Johnson, Josh Richardson and Dion Waiters for minutes as the team’s starting 2-guard.

On a two-year deal that could be worth as much as $6 million, Waiters will have to prove that his fundamentally sound defense and efficient three-point shooting in last year’s playoff run with the Oklahoma City Thunder was no mirage.

Last season in OKC, Waiters averaged 9.8 points per game on paltry .399/.358/.713 shooting splits. He averaged fewer points per game in the playoffs, but his defense was noticeably suffocating and his three-point shooting improved to 37.5 percent.

With the Thunder trading for Victor Oladipo, there was no need for Waiters, even after losing Kevin Durant. Miami did the right thing by swooping in on a 24-year-old who has shown too many flashes to be given up on just yet, but downgrading from an all-timer like Wade to an all-time irrational confidence guy like Waiters isn’t exactly a winning move either.

If you’re not convinced, just think about the ramifications of Dion Waiters and Hassan Whiteside playing on the same team. Unless you revel in chaos, it’s not very fun to think about.

Grade: B-

Next: Odds And Ends

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