Has Udonis Haslem Become Expendable to the Miami Heat?

When the Miami Heat first began their Big Three experiment, it was expected that Haslem was going to take a backseat. He wasn’t as skilled offensively as Chris Bosh, LeBron Jame and Dwyane Wade, so naturally, his role on that end of the ball would diminish considerably.

And it did. Despite appearing in just 13 games during the 2010-11 campaign, it became clear Haslem would have to make a living off the table scraps that were left by the trio of superstars he played alongside. That became even more evident only last season. And while that seems like a cushy gig, Haslem has done anything but thrive. In fact, heading into the 2012-13 crusade, it’s not a stretch to say he’s almost irrelevant.

And he knows it.

Via Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel:

But after seeing teammate Chris Bosh step out of the power rotation to convert seven 3-pointers during last season’s playoff run, and also seeing how the 3-point shooting of others has opened the floor for LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, Haslem figured it was time for a 32-year-old to learn some new tricks.

“When Chris made those shots, it definitely opened my eyes to that,” Haslem said during a break in training camp. “And, also, being a competitor, I want to be able to help my team.

“I want to be on the floor and if that means reinventing myself just a little bit to put myself in the best position to be out there with the guys, then that’s what I got to do.”

Now, at first glance, it may seem as if Haslem is merely trying to stretch his range for the better of the team, and that’s partially true. But this is more about him, and the battle for playing time, the battle to stave off irrelevancy.

Chris Bosh has developed a three-point shot, and Miami is fresh off the signing of Rashard Lewis, a big man who can also stretch the defense with his three-point capabilities. Where does that leave Haslem? He’s not nearly as versatile as those two because, right now, his range is so limited. Last season, he converted on just 25.9 percent of his 10-15 footers, and 39 percent of his shots from 16-23 feet away. If he wishes to remain a vital part of the rotation, or a member of the lineup at all, Haslem must extend his range and hit not just his mid-range shots, but long-range ones, consistently.

Should Haslem fail to effectively extend his range on the offensive end, though, his reputation as a big shot maker and valuable leader will only carry him so far. With perpetual slashers like James and Wade, the need for strictly mid-range fixtures has diminished, just like Haslem’s importance.

If he wants to regain his composure and prove to not only the Heat, but the rest of the league that he is an integral cog in this championship machine, he has no other choice than to become a little more Bosh, and a lot less Haslem; he must step outside his comfort zone, and make it home.

That is, unless he’s partial to watching his team compete for a championship from the sidelines.