Miami Heat Team Roster & Starting Lineup for 2016-2017 Season (UPDATED): A Look at the Emerging Players Beyond Chris Bosh
So, where do the Miami Heat go from here? With Dwyane Wade now in his hometown of Chicago and team president Pat Riley admitting that team officials fear All-Star forward Chris Bosh has played his last game with the team, no one can predict with any certainty what should be expected from the Heat this season.
"We have some pieces," said veteran forward Udonis Haslem, who now reigns as the team's longest running player. "I'm looking forward to the opportunity. Like I said, people can look at it as a negative. I look at it as a positive."
Whiteside, Dragic Back
The Heat resigned center Haasan Whiteside over the summer to again anchor the middle and veteran guard Goran Dragic was also back to control the offense.
The two veterans figure to be joined in the starting lineup by forwards Josh McRoberts and youngsters Justise Winslow and Tyler Johnson, whom the team spent $50 million on to bring back in free agency.
Johnson Could be key
"He makes you watch him," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said of the three-year man who clawed his way to the roster from the D-League. "He makes you play him. He makes you re-sign him. He's a force of nature out there. He doesn't do everything perfectly by the script, and that's what I love about Tyler. He's an ultimate competitor. He finds a way."
Whether the Heat can find a way to match or even improve upon their 48-34 regular season finish of a year ago remains to be seen.
What's clear is after years of being one of the league's most star-studded franchises, Miami will now look to do things by committee.
"We've got everything that it takes to be a good team, as long as we put a lot of hard work on the court and play as a team," said Dragic.
Miami Heat roster
No. 5 Luke Babbitt, F, 6-9
No. 34 Keith Benson, C, 6-11
No. 1 Chris Bosh, F, 6-11 -- x
No. 7 Goran Dragic, G, 6-3
No. 2 Wayne Ellington, G, 6-4
No. 40 Udonis Haslem, F, 6-8
No. 29 Stefan Jankovic, F, 6-11
No. 16 James Johnson, F, 6-9
No. 8 Tyler Johnson, G, 6-4
No. 17 Rodney McGruder, G, 6-4
No. 4 Josh McRoberts, F, 6-10
No. 35 Willie Reed, C, 6-10
No. 0 Josh Richardson, G, 6-6 -- y
No. 9 Beno Udrih, G, 6-3
No. 11 Dion Waiters, G, 6-4
No. 12 Briante Weber, G, 6-2
No. 16 Okaro White, F, 6-8
No. 21 Hassan Whiteside, C, 7-0
No. 22 Derrick Williams, F, 6-8
No. 20 Justise Winslow, F, 6-7
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