Miami Heat: 5 Potential (Cheap) Willie Reed Replacements

2. Mike Muscala, Atlanta Hawks

What was supposed to be a breakout season for Mike Muscala never came to fruition. Although he did enjoy a career-year in games played and points scored nightly, the fourth-year stretch-5 didn’t come close to the lofty expectations many had for him.

Perhaps Miami can capitalize from his inability to blossom with the Atlanta Hawks.

Had Muscala become the three-point shooting, shot-blocking big man he was envisioned to be, there’s no way he would have been a cheap option this summer.

Miami Heat

But thanks to his low production and complete no-show in the playoffs (through four games, averaging 3.3 points and shooting 3-for-16), the Heat could sign him at a steep discount.

He’s still a guy with a lot of potential, doesn’t turn 26 until the summer and has proven that, if anything, he can knock down threes from the center position.

In 2016-17, Muscala converted on 41.8 percent of his 1.6 three-point attempts nightly. The former Bucknell University star would space the floor with Miami’s second unit, and provide the perfect outlet option for Goran Dragic and Dion Waiters.

He could even spend some time at power forward next to Whiteside, playing the same role Luke Babbitt did.

The Heat’s offense exploded once they embraced the kick-and-drive scheme built by head coach Erik Spoelstra. And Muscala would be the perfect cog in the bombard-opponents-from-three machine Miami has become.