Andray Blatche has a penchant for poor conditioning, inconsistent performances and exuding a toxic attitude. So, naturally the Miami Heat are interested.
According to Marc Stein of ESPN, the Heat are among a short list of teams that have displayed interest in the perpetually underachieving Blatche.
Free-agent rumble that just dribbled across the pond: Heat & Spurs among teams to express exploratory interest in free agent Andray Blatche
Miami has made some strong moves this off-season, acquiring both Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis, but pursuing Blatche will not fall into the same category.
Though the occasionally athletic power forward was coming off a career year heading into the 2011-12 campaign, it became abundantly clear early on that he just doesn’t have the drive to refine his skills. At 6’11”, he has the tools necessary to become a dominant low post scorer, fierce rebounder and feared shot-blocker. And while he has proven he can excel in all those facets of the game, he has yet to do so consistently.
Last season, Blatche appeared in just 26 games, averaged 8.5 points and 5.8 rebounds per contest while shooting 38 percent from the field on his way to being benched courtesy of a physique that rivaled Eddy Curry’s.
And why would the Heat want to add this summer’s version of Curry?
Just look at Miami’s roster—it’s built to run. LeBron James and Dwyane Wade are habitual slashers, Chris Bosh navigates the floor extremely well, Allen, Mario Chalmers and Lewis make a living off threes in transition and even Shane Battier and Joel Anthony are built capitalize off—as well as defend—fast break opportunities.
What’s Blatche built for? At one point, it appeared to be greatness. But now, it’s clear he’s suited to assume the role as a low post pawn who feigns competency, and nothing else.
Yes, Blatche has the physical gifts to be great, but he doesn’t possess the necessary state of mind to do so, and sometimes, that’s more important. It’s his fault he didn’t have the drive to get in shape last season, and it’s his fault that his perpetual inaction, led to his demise in Washington.
Plain and simple: Blatche is a headache. While it’s easy—and incredibly optimistic—to believe he’ll turn it around this year, had he showed signs of reversing his dead-weight tendencies, he would be generating more league-wide interest than he currently is.
But instead, the market for Blatche is lukewarm at best. His unflattering stagnancy has rendered him an unnecessary risk at this point.
Especially for the NBA’s defending champs.
Dan Favale is an avid basketball analyst and firm believer in the three-pointer as well as the notion that defense doesn’t always win championships. His work can be found at Bleacherreport.com in addition to TheHoopDoctors.com. Follow @danfavale on Twitter for his latest posts and all things NBA.
