Udonis Haslem, PF
After going undrafted out of Florida in 2002 and spending a year playing overseas, Udonis Haslem wowed Heat coaches during a tryout and earned himself a roster spot on the 2003-04 team.
Since then, the man known as U.D. has suited up in 977 games for Miami (regular season and playoffs included), winning three titles along the way.
Though Haslem has never come close to sniffing any sort of career accolade, his place in Heat history is unquestioned. Simply put, he has personified class, hard work and dedication over the past 14 seasons, and has made the transition from role-playing, defensive-minded big man into mentor beautifully.
These days, the former Florida Gator is essentially an extra coach on the bench — an elder statesman who provides leadership and wisdom to the entire team. His importance in Hassan Whiteside‘s emergence as a borderline-elite center has been huge too.
When Whiteside first came on, he’d too often have lapses — usually due to a lack of maturity — that would force him off the floor. Tough to blame him, as he went from playing in the Chinese second division to the NBA in just one year; he simply didn’t know how to handle the meteoric rise.
But Haslem, along with Dwyane Wade and Bosh, were positive influences for him that helped the big man settle down and eventually blossom into the stud he is today. Whiteside still has his moments of tomfoolery, and that’s why keeping U.D. around for another season is vital.
Final verdict: Buy (At the veteran minimum though, not on the $4 million he was on in 2016-17.)