Harper: Would be "Shocked" if McRoberts Returned to Miami Heat Next Season
The Miami Heat, winners of six of their last nine including a two-game streak against some elite competition in Cleveland and Portland, appear to be hitting their stride at the perfect time while morphing into a nightmare playoff opponent in the first round.
With Chris Bosh shelved for the season to rehabilitate from a scary lung injury, is there any chance the injured Josh McRoberts makes it back onto the court in time for the playoffs?
"I don't think there's any chance," Zach Harper of CBS Sports said on WQAM's Kup and Crowder Show Friday afternoon. "I actually would be a little shocked if he returned next season because I think they'll try to move him. With Whiteside in tow and Bosh back healthy, I don't think he's extraneous but I think you can move him and try to get something for him."
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McRoberts put up a paltry 4.2 points and 2.6 rebounds in 17 games before going down in December, but was coming alive just before tearing his meniscus which is expected to sideline him for the season. In his last two games, he averaged 12.0 points, 6.0 assists, and 4.5 rebounds on 77-percent shooting.
"He'd be fantastic," Harper said if McRoberts were to be able to suit up again this year. "He really does fit into the system it's just now for the cost, do you need that depth necessarily? I guess if you're worried about Bosh long-term, then, yeah, you need that depth but in terms of fitting the system he can shoot, he can pass, he can defend, he's really good.
"... just to kind of reappropriate where you're spending your money. Maybe you need more wing depth, whatever you feel like you have to move."
McRoberts signed a four-year, $22.7 million deal last summer. With the Heat expecting to retain Goran Dragic (player option this summer) and Whiteside (unrestricted free agent in 2016) extra cap space might be needed.
So the question is becoming not whether Josh McRoberts will suit up with the Heat again this season, but in the coming years as well.
