As the Miami Heat venture into the offseason following an injury-riddled 2014-2015 regular season, it’s very clear that this team needs to address its roster depth, among other issues, before the 2015-16 season begins.
Assuming they re-sign their potential starters, who all return healthy before the season starts, here is what Miami’s starting lineup should look like:
If this lineup indeed stays intact, the Heat could do some serious damage in next year’s Eastern Conference playoff picture. However, considering Miami’s health problems throughout the 2014-15 campaign, the team should definitely dive deep into the free agent market this offseason.
Here are five players the Heat should consider adding to their squad this offseason to potentially bolster their roster depth.
1. Ed Davis (Power Forward)
It is no secret to anyone that as a team, the Heat have been pretty bad when it comes to rebounding efficiency. For the previous three seasons, Miami found themselves in dead last at the end of the regular season in terms of team rebounding, and that problem needs to be addressed this offseason.
With center Hassan Whiteside (11.8 points and 10 rebounds per game in 48 contests) and power forward Chris Bosh (21.1 points and seven rebounds per game in 44 contests) expected to be fully healthy by next season, the Heat must address the depth behind their two big men.
Enter Los Angeles Lakers power forward Ed Davis, who played in 79 games (24 starts) for the abysmal 21-61 Lakers team this season. Although the often successful Lakers franchise had their worst season in team history in 2014-15, Davis was a very solid contributor to the team. The 6’10,” 240-pound Davis put up pretty good numbers off the bench for Los Angeles, as he averaged an efficient 8.3 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in only 23.3 minutes per game.
“Just being somewhere where I feel comfortable with a coaching staff that trusts me and needs me,” said Davis on April 16th regarding his plan for free agency. “I don’t just want to be another guy that they don’t need.”
With Davis planning to opt-out of his current two-year, $2 million contract, the Heat would undoubtedly benefit from signing the big man.
Next: Gerald Green
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