With the team facing a deadline on August 1st regarding the future of Rodney McGruder and Okaro White, the Miami Heat are expected to make the easy decision of guaranteeing their deals for next season, according to Ira Winderman of the Sun-Sentinel.
From earlier: Two more deadlines approach for Heat, this time with McGruder, Okaro White. https://t.co/gwwxNZv9Ae Other clocks ticking
— Ira Winderman (@IraHeatBeat) July 31, 2017
It also helps the team’s cause that the two will only be guaranteed for $453,000 each beyond the said date, as Miami will not allow them to become free agents instead. McGruder and White both played important roles for the Heat’s emergence last season, where they turned their fortunes around and won 30 of their last 41 games.
McGruder is a knockdown 3-point shooter, who appeared in 78 games last season, with averages of 6.4 points, including 33.2 percent from beyond the arc, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 25.2 minutes per game. He started in 65 matches for the Heat, and even saw some extended minutes when Dion Waiters got injured.
White, on the other hand, was signed midway through the last campaign and played in 35 games for the team. Despite his pedestrian averages of 2.8 points and 2.3 rebounds, he was a source of energy off the bench for the Heat, and gave them quality minutes night in and night out. Many of their fans also see him as the good luck charm in South Beach, as their improbable run came right after he joined them.
With the team retaining their services, it would give Erik Spoelstra more options, and also see how they can help his system next year. Their experience will be very valuable, as they know what kind of culture the organization has, and will be ready to contribute to their quest of making it back to the playoffs and become a winning group once again.
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