The Miami Heat enter a new era this upcoming season.
Gone is the best player in the world, LeBron James. Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade return, except now they’ll be depended upon to be the faces of the franchise, rather than LeBron’s sidekicks. Familiar faces such as Mario Chalmers, Norris Cole and Chris Andersen will be looked to for stability. Additions like Luol Deng, Danny Granger and Josh McRoberts will be expected to offset the departure of ‘The King.’
While a lot has been made of the Heat recovering from the loss of a four-time MVP, much of the attention has been placed on the franchise cogs—Bosh and Wade. Pressure is not only facing the likes of the ‘Big Two,’ but their supporting cast—the returning core from the championship years and the new additions from free agency and the 2014 NBA Draft.
Much pressure has been placed on the aforementioned groups, but there is one group of players that won’t be facing any pressure this upcoming season—let’s call them the “under-the-radar” guys. All three players are non-locks to make the roster. But they’re also young and all three individuals have the opportunity to contribute as key members of the Heat’s rotation in 2015.
Let’s take a look at how each player can contribute towards the Heat’s chances of advancing to their fifth consecutive NBA Finals appearance.
Shawne Williams
Williams is a 28-year-old power forward who enters his eighth season in the NBA. The former Los Angeles Laker is a journeyman by definition, having played for six different teams (including the Heat) over the duration of his pro career.
The 6’9″ forward isn’t expected to be anything more than bench fodder, but he possesses the tools and skills that can aid the Heat, provided he can crack the rotation. While it appears Williams isn’t a part of the rotation, early signs have been positive—during the Heat’s intrasquad scrimmage, the journeyman scored 17 points as a result of being placed in the starting lineup due to McRoberts’ nagging toe injury. In the preseason exhibition opener versus the New Orleans Pelicans, Williams scored the second-most points of any Heat player in just 17 minutes of action. He logged the highest plus-minus rating of the 14 Heat players that suited up for the game.
What the University of Memphis product brings to Miami is this—range. Think Rashard Lewis, except less efficient from beyond the arc. He’s a career .333 shooter from the three-point line, registering a career-high .401 mark in 2010-11 with the New York Knicks. Williams can stretch the floor and can provide a scoring punch off of the bench. Much how Lewis and Michael Beasley played vital roles in terms of scoring off the bench at various points last season, the big man will fill the same role in 2015.
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James Ennis
Ennis was the Heat’s Summer League sensation. While Shabazz Napier—Miami’s 2014 first-round rookie—was expected to steal the show, it was the 2013 second-round draft pick who made the biggest impression over the summer.
During the five games of the Orlando Summer League, Ennis led the Heat by averaging 17.2 points per game. He shot 52 percent from the field and beyond the arc, and scored 29 points versus the Brooklyn Nets in his best game of the summer. With LBJ’s departure and the lack of reliable depth at small forward, the 24-year-old could easily establish himself as Miami’s breakthrough player of the year. At 6’7″ and 210 pounds, Ennis possesses the ability to shoot the three, while displaying athleticism in the open court.
With question marks behind Deng at the three, Ennis can unseat Granger as the primary backup at the position.
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Khem Birch
Birch was a late addition to the Heat’s training camp roster, as he became the 18th member on September 14.
The lanky 6’9″ center will be expected to contribute much in the vain of how Joel Anthony made his mark in Miami—defend, block shots and hustle. The UNLV product went undrafted in 2014, but he won Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year in consecutive seasons in 2013 and 2014. During Summer League play, Birch played with the Washington Wizards, impressing with his rebounding effort and defensive presence. Although he was expected to sign with Washington for training camp, a number of big men signed with the Wizards, making Birch expendable.
There have been a couple of guys in the past decade in the mold of Birch who made their marks in Miami. Those two guys would be the aforementioned Anthony and 11-year veteran Udonis Haslem. All three players were undrafted and undersized big men with limited offensive games. Considering the Heat’s lack of quality big men, the UNLV product could establish himself as the next Haslem.
Conclusion
Heading into the season, all eyes will be on Deng, Granger and McRoberts. Deng will start at the three, McRoberts will start at the four, and Granger is the favorite to be Miami’s sixth man. However, two of those three guys are starters and Granger is a huge question mark considering his recent injury history. The Heat will need a lot of depth and perhaps a nine-man rotation if they hope to repeat as Eastern Conference Champions. The only way the team comes close to its success of recent seasons are if guys like Williams, Ennis and Birch exceed expectations.
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