Which Miami Heat Player Has the Most Upside Right Now?
After a rapid rebuild following the departure of LeBron James, the Miami Heat enter a new era under Pat Riley and Erik Spoelstra. A building team typically needs players on rookie-scale contracts to either contribute on the court or to become assets in trades, but the Heat had to rebuild on the fly.
They have only one rookie, point guard Shabazz Napier. They also brought over James Ennis from Australia. If the Heat are going to compete for the Eastern Conference championship, they will need these guys to contribute.
However, none of them offer as much upside as a veteran signed this summer—Danny Granger.
Former All-Star
Dealing with multiple leg injuries, Granger played in just 46 games over the past two seasons. He was dealt by the Indiana Pacers to the Philadelphia 76ers in a deal centered around Evan Turner and then immediately waived. He was picked up by the Los Angeles Clippers, where he was quietly productive.
He played just 12 games in L.A., but he averaged eight points, 2.3 rebounds and 0.7 assists in 16.2 minutes per game. Adjusted for 36 minutes, he averaged 17.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game.
His shot chart, per NylonCalculus.com, shows that he hit from the corners at an above-league-average rate.
So why is Granger the player with the most upside? Remember, Granger was the leader of the Pacers before Paul George, and he was an All-Star in 2009. Check out his shot chart from that season.
As the (South Florida) Sun Sentinel's Ira Winderman points out, Granger knows what it is like to be an All-Star, and he's the healthiest he's been in two years.
"While there is no doubt that Dwyane Wade's return to form is the key for the re-imagined Heat, Granger stands as the newcomer who could provide the greatest unexpected boost.
Josh McRoberts and Luol Deng are known quantities; they do what they do and they do it efficiently, if not spectacularly. But Granger not so long ago was a player opponents game-planned against.
Clearly much has changed in the intervening months, with the way he was flipped between the Pacers, 76ers and Clippers, and then how he was available for such a minimal salary. But he already is at AmericanAirlines Arena working out, seemingly committed to rebuilding his career.
While it's a double-edged sword, with so many Heat players holding out-opts after the current season, it also could be a source for extreme motivation, particularly with Granger.
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Granger probably won't return to the All-Star Game, but if he's healthy he could replace Ray Allen's production and spot as the first wing off the bench.
Role on the Team
Capable of playing both shooting guard and small forward, Granger should earn plenty of minutes spelling both Dwyane Wade and Deng and projects as a starter in the event that Wade sits out.
A healthy Granger coming off the bench gives Miami a solid top eight of Mario Chalmers, Wade, Deng, Josh McRoberts, Chris Bosh, Granger, Norris Cole and Chris Andersen. That is a group as good as any in the East.
Spoelstra isn't about to ditch the small lineup approach just because James is gone, and he could use Granger the same way he used Shane Battier in the past. "If Chris Bosh and Josh McRoberts are your starting power players, and with Pat Riley already talking about Granger getting time in the power rotation, that again appears to be the direction," Winderman reports.
Playing power forward is actually not unheard of for Granger. According to Basketball-Reference.com, Granger has played 15 percent of his plays at the 4, compared to just 3 percent from the shooting guard position. During his rookie year in 2005, Granger actually played 42 percent of plays at the 4.
Granger's versatility will allow Spoelstra to feature him in a variety of lineups. He could see time at the 2 next to Chalmers/Cole and Deng—a lineup in which he would be the primary scorer from the perimeter. He could space the floor for Wade while playing the 3. Or he could join Bosh in the frontcourt, flanked by Deng.
Upside is not only about talent but also opportunity. Granger's health and possible resurgence combined with his positional versatility makes him the Heat player with the most upside.
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