Nov 23, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat forward Chris Andersen (11) is injured on a play against Charlotte Hornets during the first half at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Miami Heat fans have long been conditioned to consider themselves annual playoff contenders. Since Pat Riley began rebuilding the franchise in 1995, they’ve failed to make the postseason only three times, just as many times as they’ve won the NBA championship. But this injury-ravaged season has reduced them to casual bystanders like the rest of us.

And that’s not a bad thing at all.

The team could have made the playoff but would ultimately have extended themselves well beyond their means. Would a quick ouster by the Atlanta Hawks or Cleveland Cavaliers really have been preferable? Moreover, their prolonged summer break gives this team two thing it desperately needs: a chance to rest and recover as well as a likely top-10 pick in the upcoming NBA draft.

The draft pick presents both a problem and an opportunity for a team has rarely relied on a youth movement to develop a championship pedigree. They’ve lucked out with the rare pick (like Dwyane Wade) but struck out much more frequently (Michael Beasley).

Just as the team and their devotees expect to always be one of the last 16 teams playing, they’ve only come to expect that the draft isn’t worth much.

The Heat are expected to have the 10th selection in the upcoming draft — that could potentially climb even higher depending on the lottery results that will be determined on May 19.

Many early mock drafts have Miami choosing a wing player with their pick — possibilities clearly vary but some names to consider at this juncture include Stanley Johnson (SF, Arizona), Kelly Oubre (SF, Kansas) and Sam Dekker (SF, Wisconsin).

There’s talent in that list, to be sure, and some long-range shooting as well, areas that Miami clearly lacks. But the Heat would best be served taking a player to help a thin power rotation that struggled to even make it on the floor.

Miami’s projected lineup next season should include Chris Bosh and Hassan Whiteside, assuming that Bosh will make a full recovery from the blood clots in his lungs that sidelined him since mid-February. That’s a great combination, especially given the focus on helping Whiteside continue to develop this offseason.

But from there things get dicey, as they did this past year for the Heat. Udonis Haslem and Chris Andersen are the best backup options at this point, followed by … whom? Beasley? Journeyman player Henry Walker?

Those were the only available choices for the club during key games as Bosh’s injury destroyed a rotation that was further weakened when Whiteside and Andersen missed several games throughout the latter part of the season.

At one point, Beasley (at 6’8″) was forced to guard the much-larger DeMarcus Cousins. And while the matchup worked at times, that might say more about Cousins than it does about Beasley being a viable option to get significant minutes at the center position.

Miami will have some potential big men to choose, even if they do wind up with the tenth pick. Willie Cauley-Stein (C, Kentucky), Myles Turner (PF/C, Texas) and Frank Kaminsky (C, Wisconsin) should be there at pick No. 10. Like most picks, these players are raw and have glaring weaknesses.

But this pick is about securing Miami’s long-term future, not next season when Bosh’s return is expected to put the Heat back in title contention as some expect. A young center or power forward could take time to develop in Miami’s well-coached D-League team, the Sioux Falls Skyforce.

Or, should they be spend time on the Heat’s 15-man roster, they could gain valuable experience learning from Haslem or Andersen while they’re still around.

It’s a jarring realization for many Heat fans that “U.D.” or “the Birdman” won’t be playing for much longer in Miami. But for these two beloved players that have meant so much to Miami’s recent success, they have an opportunity to help the team one last time – by mentoring the next potential big man in Miami’s rotation.

Injuries are sure to strike at some point next season and Whiteside’s impending free agency (a huge concern looming over Riley and the rest of the front office) have to be addressed and a young player who learned the ropes from Haslem and Andersen (as well as Bosh and Whiteside) is a great asset to have in the future.

It’s something that Heat fans aren’t used to — having the patience and vision to keep the team in contention, both next season and beyond.