NBA Rumors: Shane Battier to Miami Heat Would Be Ideal for Pat Riley

The Miami Heat were a couple games away from winning the NBA Championship last season. Now, they are just a move or two away from getting over the hump.

Pat Riley and the Heat need to add a role player to their roster. What better role player than Shane Battier? His signing would be ideal for the Heat.

Battier is a do-it-all type of player. He’s not the most athletically gifted, but he knows how to play his style of basketball.

He consistently challenges himself by defending the opposition’s best scoring guard and he has given players fits in the past with his ability to defend.

His length and size also allows him to defend multiple positions. 

Miami allowed Dallas to go off in stretches during the NBA Finals last season. Jason Terry scored 27 points on 11-16 shooting to clinch the NBA Finals. Maybe that doesn’t happen if Battier is on the Heat’s roster.

Terry scored 18 points per game in the six games of the NBA Finals. It would have been interesting to see how Battier would have fared against him.

Maybe the Heat would be looking to repeat. If LeBron James showed up in the fourth quarter they also would be looking to repeat.

Battier also brings a spot-up shooter to the floor that would work well with James and Dwayne Wade.

James and Wade are two of the best slashers in the NBA and Miami averaged 20 assists per game last season.

Their ability to penetrate and find open shooters would fit perfectly with Battier, who can be successful from the perimeter.

Battier is a career 39 percent three-point shooter. He would be in the 40’s if he played with Wade and James.

They garner so much attention that it would leave Battier open on the perimeter for a possible career offensive year.

James Jones was extremely productive when he was on the floor last season.

He shot 43 percent from beyond the arc because of the team’s overall ability to penetrate. He just camped around the three-point line and waited for the ball to come to him.

Productivity from a bench player is the definition of a “role” player. Battier wouldn’t mind being a sixth man at his age. He wants to win a championship.

He averages 10 points, five rebounds, two assists and a block and a steal per game.

He does everything on the court. Battier is the perfect role player to get the Heat over the hump.

Battier would be a clear upgrade over Mike Miller, who averaged six points per game on 40 percent shooting.

Battier is capable of doing more things on the court than Miller. He’s a better rebounder and passer, but more importantly, he is much better defensively.

Riley needs to upgrade his team with Battier. He won’t be able to land a huge name, but Battier would be a great option if he wants to win a NBA Title.

He has proved to be a valuable player in the NBA, and his addition would provide a much needed boost in multiple areas to the Miami Heat’s roster.