Indiana Pacers: What we need to learn from the Miami Heat

Role players matter more than you think they do, especially when the stars aren’t shining quite as bright.

One thing that has also been a hallmark of the Miami Heat this offseason is role players (many of whom are undrafted) stepping up into an established system and shining. Players like Gabe Vincent and Duncan Robinson wouldn’t have gotten an opportunity to smell the floor in many organizations around the NBA. But in Miami? They are given a role and they execute it to perfection.

This stands in stark contrast to many of the teams around the NBA who are so focused on obtaining stars that they lose sight of the talent they already have and the depth that they need (we are looking at you Lakers).

What the Pacers can learn: Only bring in players that have a defined role. If we have two centers on the roster, there is no reason to draft a third. We can get a third string center undrafted or on the buyout market. Focus on what the team needs and start there. And anybody that we bring in we need to get some minutes for so that we can truly evaluate them. Otherwise we leave players like Gabe Vincent on the bench who could otherwise shine.