Miami Heat: Player Grades For 2016-17

Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

As we continue our transition into offseason mode, we recap 2016-17 for the Miami Heat by grading every player on the roster.

The summer of 2016 was a strange one for the Miami Heat.

After 13 seasons of being the guy in South Florida, Dwyane Wade shocked the world by signing with the Chicago Bulls. Not only that, but there was also the whole Chris Bosh situation we won't rehash here. But his loss was major, as well.

To supplement his roster, Pat Riley brought in six new guys, none of whom inspired much confidence from the fan base. Miami's team president played the odds and signed Luke Babbitt, Derrick Williams and James Johnson in the hopes that the three combined would fill the Bosh void.

Afterwards, when most thought the team was set, news broke that Dion Waiters was being brought in to replace the best player in franchise history. And, as we'll get to, it wasn't a complete disaster!

Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra deserves a ton of credit for getting this band of misfits to finish the season with 30 wins in 41 tries. But even more praise should go to the players themselves. Some simply lived up to expectations, while other far surpassed them.

As a fun exercise, why don't we examine every player who saw action this season, and assign each an individual grade. We'll go in order of minutes played. Starting us off, a staple of Heat basketball since 2002-03 and a guy who could very well be the next mayor of Miami.

Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

PF/C Udonis Haslem

Final 2016-17 averages:

Udonis Haslem

PF/C, Miami Heat

AUdonis Haslem only appeared in 17 games this season, playing a grand total of 130 minutes all year. Regardless, his various contributions to the team warrant the grade he received. Haslem played the role of mentor to Hassan Whiteside and Willie Reed while serving as an extra coach for Spoelstra. Miami's veteran big man has been with the franchise for his entire career, and that will continue next year, as he has made it clear he plans to return. Every good team needs a guy with championship pedigree on the roster, to be a leader when things get hard and help push the younger players along. It would be impossible to find someone more fitting for that role with the Heat than U.D.Next: A Flop Acquisition

Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

SF/PF Derrick Williams

Final 2016-17 averages (as a member of the Heat):

Derrick Williams

SF/PF, Miami Heat

Best performance of the season:

What does it say that Williams' only good game as a member of the Heat came in a 30-point loss?

Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

PF/C Josh McRoberts

Final 2016-17 averages:

Josh McRoberts

PF/C, Miami Heat

INCMuch like his first two seasons in Miami, Josh McRoberts yet again struggled to stay healthy. He played multiple roles this season, coming off the bench as a backup center early on before transitioning into being the starting power forward next to Whiteside. But whatever his position, his play was poor. And as if his production wasn't disappointing enough, around Christmas, he was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his foot, thus ending his 2016-17 campaign. He still has another year left in his contract, but I believe it would benefit both parties to move on this summer. I give it 50/50 odds he's a member of the Heat to start next season, and if he is, he will most likely either be waived or traded by the 2018 NBA Trade Deadline. Call it a hunch.Next: A Pleasant Surprise From Sioux Falls

Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

SF/PF Okaro White

Final 2016-17 averages:

Okaro White

SF/PF, Miami Heat

Best performance of the season:

The Heat take an embarrassing loss to the Brooklyn Nets without White's late three and block of Brook Lopez. For that, I will be forever grateful. Losing to the tanking Nets would have been scarring.

Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

SF/PF Justise Winslow

Final 2016-17 averages:

Justise Winslow

SF/PF, Miami Heat

Best performance of the season:

Twenty-three points, 13 rebounds, three assists and four steals on 10-for-16 shooting, this was easily the best performance of Winslow's young career.

It did come against the lowly Lakers, but he showed a consistent spin move from the post and in transition, an ability to finish in traffic (which is usually a weakness of his) along with his typical defense and distribution.

If this was a glimpse of his potential, it was a mighty impressive one. Summer League is going to be vitally important for his development.

Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

PF/C Willie Reed

Final 2016-17 averages:

Willie Reed

PF/C, Miami Heat

Best performance of the season:

Whiteside missed the first four games of the 2017 calendar year due to an eye laceration. (Ouch.) In his stead, Reed nodded four starts in a row, averaging 13.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.5 steals and 2.0 blocks, on 65.0 percent shooting.

If he were named a full-time starter, could he do that consistently? Probably not, but it wouldn't surprise me for a team in need of a center to promise him a chance to win a starting job, along with more money than the Heat would feel comfortable offering.

I say there is about a 75 percent chance he's wearing a different jersey to start the 2017-18 season, but I hope I'm wrong. Reed is really sneaky good.

Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

PF/C Luke Babbitt

Final 2016-17 averages:

Luke Babbitt

PF/C, Miami Heat

Best performance of the season:

If Babbitt does return, can we start calling him the "Flat-Footed Flamethrower"? Because, you see, he gets zero lift on his jumper, but will knock down shots if you leave him open.

The floor-spacing big had a 40-game stretch for the Heat where he converted 45.9 percent of his threes. (Coach Spoelstra can turn just about any player into a serviceable piece… sorry, D. Williams.)

Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

SG Dion Waiters

Final 2016-17 averages:

Dion Waiters

SG, Miami Heat

Best performance of the season:

Over Easter weekend, as the team had a final dinner together, Heat owner Micky Arison posted a comforting message on Instagram.

I know, that's a tweet, just bear with me for a second! (Sheesh.) Arison posted the same picture on Instagram, but with a different caption, one that read, "The Miami Heat future looks very bright." In addition to that hint, Waiters has also made it clear he wants to return to Miami.

I won't say it's a certainty he'll be back, but it seems very, very likely. And that's great news for fans of the Heat. Waiters Island forever.

Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

SG Wayne Ellington

Final 2016-17 averages:

Wayne Ellington

SG, Miami Heat

Best performance of the season:

Ellington missed the first month of the season due to a hip bruise suffered during the last game of the preseason. His second game back, against the Denver Nuggets, gave Miami a glimpse of who he was: five threes, 22 points and the ability to break a game open from deep.

Ellington is the prototypical bench player on good-to-great teams. His play this season did not disappoint.

Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

PG/SG Josh Richardson

Final 2016-17 averages:

Josh Richardson

PG/SG, Miami Heat

Best performance of the season:

Biggest game of the season, Richardson came up huge on both ends. The young guy is filled to the brim with potential as an explosive two-way shooting guard. This summer will be an important step in his development.

Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

SG/SF/HoneyBadger Rodney McGruder

Final 2016-17 averages:

Rodney McGruder

SG/SF, Miami Heat

Best performance of the season:

The second-to-last clip in that highlight video shows McGruder coming up with an important loose ball and nailing the game-sealing layup. I have never seen a guy come up with as many loose balls as he does, which is why Dragic dubbed him The Scavenger.

Fitting nickname, though I'm partial to calling him the Honey Badger myself. McGruder don't care, he just wants to win.

Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

PF James Johnson

Final 2016-17 averages:

James Johnson

PF, Miami Heat

Best performance of the season:

Thankfully, it appears Arison knows what he has in Johnson and I would be very surprised if he wasn't a member of the Heat heading into 2017-18. He's done enough to be considered a strong candidate to be Miami's starting power forward next season.

Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

PG/SG Tyler Johnson

Final 2016-17 averages:

Tyler Johnson

PG/SG, Miami Heat

Best performance of the season:

How did this guy go undrafted?

Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

PG Goran Dragic

Final 2016-17 averages:

Goran Dragic

PG, Miami Heat

Best performance of the season:

Dragic's Nov. 28 outing against the Celtics totaled 27 points on 15 shots, without making a three, to go with 17 assists. That stat line is the only one of its kind since 1983-84. Absurd.

Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

C Hassan Whiteside

Final 2016-17 averages:

Hassan Whiteside

C, Miami Heat

Best performance of the season:

Despite evidence firmly against him, I'm very much a Whiteside believer. It's just strange to see a player ranked 21st in one metric (win shares), while ranking in the 100s in three others. Part of that has to do with his paltry assist-to-turnover numbers (57-to-154 in 2016-17).

Though he still needs to become a more willing passer, he had various multi-assist games over the closing months of the year. At the very least, there are signs he's capable of doing it. Next year will be all about consistency.

The Heat will only go as far as Whiteside does. If he manages to improve his overall impact, rather than just affecting the box score, Miami is a piece or two away from contention. But if he reverts back to his old ways, the path becomes much more arduous.

All stats provided by NBA.com, Basketball Reference or NBA Math, unless otherwise noted. 

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