Memphis Grizzlies’ free agent Shane Battier on Miami Heat’s radar – NBA Update
Memphis Grizzlies’ free agent Shane Battier’s indication to be with a championship contender last week has drawn the attention of Miami Heat, who are desperately in search of a reliable support option. According to sources, Miami
has shown interest in adding the small forward to fire up the supporting cast of the team.
After a tumbling defeat in the NBA finals against the Dallas Mavericks, Miami’s struggle on the point guard and centre position became obvious. The franchise landed the Cleveland star Norris Cole in a trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves
on the draft night which sort of fulfilled the requirement of the point guard.
The centre position though is yet to be filled and is understood to be the primary focus for the team. However, Heat have all of a sudden shifted their gears towards Battier which indicates that the team is looking to add some
strength on the front court as well.
With the presence of three biggest offensive threats LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh, Miami has the choice to go with a defensive option completely. However the skill-set of Shane seems to impress the franchise and he
can alleviate some pressure off the trio.
Even though the 32 year old Shane will not fulfil the need of a centre that the franchise has been looking for, however the obstinate perimeter defender can play a vital role for Heat in the back court. In the series with the Dallas
Mavericks, the German Sharp-shooter Dirk Nowitzki and the prolific bench player Jason Kidd troubled Miami with their flawless shooting. Shane can be a good fit to hamper such players and keep the momentum intact for the team.
Apart from being a dynamic defender, the former Duke star Battier is quite vocal from the long ranges as well and has the strength to change the course of the game at any point. With a shooting percentage of 38.5 from beyond the
arc, Shane creates a dominating impact on the opposition.
One of the basketball analysts supported the argument of Battier to be a part of the Miami Heat in the next season and said, "Battier would be the best fit -- when you play Dwyane Wade or LeBron James at the point, you want a three-man
who can shoot."
The Memphis Grizzlies drafted Battier in 2001 with the sixth overall pick. Battier is versatile, aggressive and still quite active on the floor at the age of 32. Shane is an all-round performer and likes to work on both the ends
of the court. The Heat can go with a short-term contract with Grizzlies star whose career average is 9.6 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game.
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