As we relayed earlier today, Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra is “sick” to his stomach about his inability to find minutes for veteran sharpshooter Wayne Ellington. And now that fellow guard and teammate Dion Waiters is set to return from his ankle injury, don’t expect playing time decisions to get any easier for Spoelstra.
Not counting Waiters or up-and-coming youngster Derrick Jones, the Heat already have 11 players on standard NBA contracts who log 20.5 minutes per game or more, the most of anyone in the league. And of those 12 players, seven are swingmen who play primarily on the wing (Josh Richardson, Rodney McGruder, Justise Winslow, Dwyane Wade, Tyler Johnson, Ellington, and Waiters).
In tonight’s blowout win against the Cavs, Wade logged a DNP-Illness, with the remainder of the minutes on the wing going to Richardson (32), Jones (31), Winslow (27), Johnson (26), McGruder (21), and Waiters (11).
With Wade back in the mix soon and Waiters presumably playing his way into more minutes, the question becomes whether the Heat will move on from some of the aforementioned players, such as Waiters or Ellington, or keep the roster logjam as currently constructed as insurance in the event of another injury.
That brings us to our question of the day: Do you think the Heat should try to move on from some of their wings or keep them all around for the rest of the 2018/19 season? If they alter their roster, who is the most likely wing to be moved? Ellington? Waiters? Somebody else?
Please take to the comments section to weigh in. We look forward to your input.
The answer to all your questions is yes.
Trade Ellington and Dragic for a couple first round picks… Also, they could trade James Johnson for an expiring contract and play DJJ more at the 4 to free up some more minutes on the wing.
Derrick Jones has proven to be too small to guard the 4 spot so far. He has done better in his minutes on the wing. We could use another option at the 4.
DJJ could guard the wing if Winslow is on the court to play the 4.
Absolutely, although that’s not what you originally mentioned. Our only 2 players capable at the 4 are James Johnson and Winslow. You can add Olynyk for certain minutes, but that doesnt work against certain matchups that have been issues this year
Heat should be open to trading everyone not named Wade, Richardson, Winslow, and Bam. The ones they should be most fine with moving are still Whiteside, Waiters, Olynyk, Wayne Ellington, James Johnson, Goran Dragic, draft picks. Preferably, Dragic, JJ, and certain draft picks, or a McGruder or Jones would only be included in certain deals, and then in bigger situations, they should essentially be willing to move anyone, depending on length of team control over who they get in a trade
I also think this may be a chance to see this team close to health for the first time, and it wouldnt be the worst thing to go into the offseason with a lot of expiring salary coming off the books a year later in the summer of 2020
The whole team is bad. It’s like a roster full of 12 Lance Stephensons. Minus the crazy persona.
Raptors could use one of these sharpshooters to replace CJM our dullshooter.
Charlotte would match up.