The Heat will be looking for size with the 14th pick, especially if Luke Kennard and Donovan Mitchell are both off the board, according to Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald. T.J. Leaf, who proved to be an effective outside shooter at UCLA, is a possibility, along with Gonzaga’s Zach Collins, who can also hit from 3-point range. Miami would like to find a stretch four to team with Hassan Whiteside, a traditional low-post center.
If Collins is off the board, Jackson says the Heat will look at Jarrett Allen of Texas and Justin Patton of Creighton. Both are 6’11” and are targeted for the back of the lottery or possibly later. A minor injury prevented Allen from working out for Miami, but he held an interview Sunday and reportedly impressed team officials. Patton did participate in a workout for the Heat on Sunday.
Jackson offers more insight into Miami’s strategy for tonight and beyond:
- Drafting a backup center would protect the Heat in case Willie Reed leaves in free agency. The front office fears that Reed will get an offer significantly higher than the team is willing to pay.
- Leaf could be a replacement for either Luke Babbitt or James Johnson, two forwards who are both headed for free agency.
- Another big man to consider is John Collins of Wake Forest, who impressed the Heat in a workout last week. Miami will also look at Duke’s Harry Giles, but might be scared off by his history of knee problems. Giles canceled a workout in Miami and never rescheduled.
- If the Heat decide to trade down, they will focus on UCLA center Ike Anigbogu and Kentucky power forward Bam Adebayo.
- Miami is a possible destination if LaMarcus Aldridge wants out of San Antonio. The Spurs are seeking a top 10 draft pick and would like to cut salary to make a run at Chris Paul. Jackson says Miami could offer a competitive package of the 14th pick, Wayne Ellington, whose $6.27MM contract won’t be guaranteed until July 12th, Justise Winslow and Josh McRoberts.
Lamarcus would be sick in Miami.
With Hassan besides him.. Most definitely.
Pretty much, those are all the guys I’ve talked about for awhile, so I guess that means I’m onto something lol. I’m definitely cool with whatever Riley ends up doing. He could trade the pick too. I wouldn’t mind trying to get Paul George, and I wouldn’t mind trading down.
Players I like most that I don’t think will be there: Donovan Mitchell, Justin Jackson, OG Anunoby
Players I’m most interested in that will likely be there for us: Zach Collins (if he can pick and roll defend. He’s the only prospect I don’t know much about), Justin Patton, and then TJ Leaf
I like Semi Ojeleye, Jordan Bell, and Jonathan Motley, and a couple of 2nd round guards like Josh Hart and Sindarius Thornwell and a couple of others, but as I said, we don’t have picks in those ranges, and only the bigs would probably make sense
14th Pick, Justice Winslow, Josh Richardson and Ellington for Lamarcus Aldridge… get it done Pat!
Hell no