Three Players the Miami Heat Are Unlikely to Re-Sign and the Reasons Why…
Over the years, the Miami Heat have seen several key role players come and go, but some former players may never return to the team. While building a strong NBA team requires more than just superstar talent, role players are essential for success, often helping stars perform at their best by contributing in different areas. The Heat have benefited from several players stepping up in crucial moments.
For example, Caleb Martin’s standout performance against the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals and Gabe Vincent’s valuable minutes during the postseason highlight how important these role players can be. However, the business side of the NBA sometimes forces teams to part ways with these key contributors, as seen with Martin’s recent move to the Philadelphia 76ers in free agency.
Some players, like Dwyane Wade in 2018 and Josh Richardson last summer, have returned to the Heat after leaving. Richardson, a significant contributor in previous seasons, was traded away in the deal that brought Jimmy Butler to Miami. After playing for other teams, he rejoined the Heat on a veteran minimum contract.
Miami is open to reuniting with former players if the financial and team-fit circumstances are right. However, there are a few ex-players the Heat are unlikely to bring back.
Justise Winslow
In the 2015 NBA draft, the Heat selected Justise Winslow from Duke with their first-round pick, passing on the chance to draft future star Devin Booker. Although Winslow showed promise as a versatile defender and slasher, injuries prevented him from reaching his potential. His best season came in 2018-19 when he was utilized as the team’s starting point guard, showing promise until injuries disrupted his progress.
Unfortunately, Winslow’s career with the Heat was marred by injuries, forcing the team to eventually move on. Since leaving Miami, his availability has only worsened, and he is now trying to make an NBA roster with the Toronto Raptors’ G-League team.
Kyle Lowry
In 2021, the Heat made a win-now move by signing veteran guard Kyle Lowry, hoping his championship experience would help them compete for a title. Initially, Lowry made a significant impact, leading the team to the top seed in the Eastern Conference as the starting point guard. However, as age and injuries took their toll, his performance declined sharply.
By the 2022-23 season, Lowry had been relegated to a bench role, and although he performed well in that capacity, his hefty $30 million salary made the situation less than ideal. Now with the 76ers, Lowry’s diminished role is more acceptable given his veteran minimum contract. However, his last stint with the Heat was marked by disagreements with the coaching staff and a further decline in his on-court contributions.
Victor Oladipo
Victor Oladipo’s time with the Heat is perhaps the most unfortunate. He had long shown interest in joining Miami and finally arrived via trade at the 2021 deadline. Unfortunately, injuries plagued his tenure with the team, preventing him from ever returning to the All-Star form he displayed with the Indiana Pacers.
Despite providing solid defensive play when healthy, Oladipo’s injuries kept him off the court for much of his time with the Heat. Despite numerous attempts to recover, his time with the team ended after yet another knee injury during the 2023 playoffs. The Heat gave Oladipo multiple chances to overcome his injury struggles, but ultimately, his persistent health issues became too much of a liability.
