The years of being able to depend on the three-point shooting of Ray Allen and Shane Battier are over for the Miami Heat. They ranked 24th in the NBA this past season, shooting 33 percent from beyond the arc, making about seven of their 20 attempts each night.
While Tyler Johnson and Shabazz Napier both shot about 35 percent from behind the line, the Heat didn’t have one player in the top 40 in three-point percentage (Johnson, Napier, and Henry Walker didn’t qualify because they didn’t take enough shots).
With Wade aging, the Heat need a good sixth man who can consistently play 25-30 minutes per game and be sound from behind the three-point line. Mario Chalmers had this role at times during the 2014-15 season and did a solid job, but was too inconsistent to be a long-term answer.
When looking at the top 20 shooting guards in the NBA, five guys stand out as perfect fits for the Heat.
1. Wesley Matthews
The 6’6″ unrestricted two guard, has spent the last four years in Portland. For his career, he has shot just under 40 percent from behind the three-point line, making him a reliable option. The reason why Matthews is ahead of the others is because of his strong defense and his ability to guard bigger players. Matthews would be a perfect fit in Miami.
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2. Lou Williams
Lou Will comes in second on this list. The ten-year veteran is a quality combo guard who would be able to spark the offense coming off the bench. The current Toronto Raptor is having a career year, shooting over 40 percent from the field and 34 percent from behind the arc. The issue with Lou is that he would probably take playing time away from Napier and Johnson, which may be a bad thing depending on the direction General Manager Pat Riley wants to go in.
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3. Jamal Crawford
You can’t talk about sixth men without mentioning Jamal Crawford. He was born to shoot a basketball and his 35 percent career three-point average proves it. The 15-year vet would be a cheap option and bring veteran leadership to the Heat locker room. The issue with Crawford is that the Los Angeles Clippers have a team option that they can use to sign him for the 2015-16 season. It will be something to watch in the coming months.
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4. Arron Afflalo
He may be somewhat of a reach, but Arron Afflalo is quietly having a career year. Odds are he may be too expensive for the Heat (he is looking for $9-$10 million per year), but the 38 percent three-point shooter would be a great option. Afflalo has a player option to remain with the Portland Trail Blazers next season and he could opt out, looking for more money. He was backing up Wesley Matthews in Portland until his injury about a month ago. Afflalo has gotten better every year he’s been in the league and can move well without the ball, making him a perfect option for Coach Erik Spoelstra’s offense.
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5. Danny Green
Finally, no one wants this player on the Heat, but Danny Green would make perfect sense. Heat fans know first hand just how good he is from behind the three-point line. The 6’6″ guard is also an above average rebounder, especially for a guard. The Heat didn’t have an issue finding open shots in the 2014-15 season, it was making them. Green would be the perfect spot-up shooter for the Heat this upcoming season.
While the Heat have not be linked to any of these names just yet, it will be interesting to see if any of these quality shooters make their way to South Beach this offseason.
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