The Miami Heat’s 2017 NBA Draft Board: Who will be around at no. 14?
By Wes Goldberg
The offseason has started for the Miami Heat, and part of that is scouting draft prospects. Who might the Heat have their eye on? We try to figure it out by building their draft board.
The NBA playoffs are going on, but not for the Miami Heat. Instead, the Heat are focused on developing offseason plans, and that included finalizing their draft board in time for June’s NBA Draft. It’s unclear what the Heat’s team needs will be by then, but we can begin to guess what their draft board will look like based on the type of players Pat Riley, Andy Elisburg and Erik Spoelstra typically like. Keep in mind…
- The Heat are currently in line for the no. 14 pick, but that could change during the NBA Draft Lottery, when they have nowhere to go but up. So for the sake of this exercise we’ll build a draft board for prospects 1-20.
- This is not a general rankings of prospects. Rather, this list is custom-made for the Heat. That means it will look different than NBA Draft boards you’ll see elsewhere, because it’s tailored for our projected team needs.
- I don’t really know anything, and neither do you. The draft is hard, and that’s why scouts and general managers get paid lots of money to figure it oiut. This is my best guess at stuff.
1. Markelle Fultz, PG, Washington
I had the pleasure of watching Markelle Fultz in person when he played Cal in Berkeley but, unfortunately, it was one of his worse games of the season. I still came away impressed, and without any doubts that he’s a future All-Star at the NBA level. The game looks easy for him, and he has offensive moves for days — dribble spin, the step back, the crossover — and, despite playing on one of the worst rosters in college basketball, is still adept at finding his teammates for open shots. Fultz can make his teammates better and, when playing with NBA-caliber players, he will shine.
2. Lonzo Ball, PG, UCLA
The flashiest and most interesting player in the draft, Ball walked into UCLA and transformed the culture and feeling around the program. The ball moved and the offense soared as the Bruins were one of the best teams in the country. There’s questions about his jumper depsite shooting 41% on 5.4 3-pointers per game, though I’m not as worried as some. A team will have to change there offense to fit Ball’s talents, but that’s what you do for a potential franchise player anyway. Especially one whose skill set jives with modern NBA trends.
3. Josh Jackson, SF, Kansas
Think Justise Winslow but more athletic, and who showed flashed of more potential offensively.
4. Jayson Tatum, SF, Duke
Tatum rose up draft boards as he became Duke’s go-to weapon on offense late in the season. He’s the most natural and versatile scorer in this class behind only Fultz. He doesn’t have high-end athleticism, but he compensates with a barrel of an upper body. Potential small ball 4 potential.
5. De’Aaron Fox, PG, Kentucky
The fastest riser in the draft, Fox is drawing comparisons to a young John Wall. He may be the best pure athlete in this class and gets to the basket at will. His shot is questionable, but it can be worked on. Fox is custom made for slash-and-kick, which would fit perfectly in Miami’s offense. Fox will have time to learn behind Goran Dragic, and could eventually become his running mate or replacement.
6. Malik Monk, G, Kentucky
Much like Devin Booker before him, Monk was relegated to mostly shooting 3’s at Kentucky, but may be able to show off more in the NBA. He should be able to run a pick-and-roll, and his deadly shooting provides spacing for the offense. He projects as a point guard or a 2-guard, depending on the offense. The problem with Monk is that he doesn’t have great size, nor is he a proven ball handler. If all he can do is shoot 3s, he won’t be worth a top-10 pick. Still, the potential to be an elite scorer is there, and is worth taking.
7. Dennis Smith Jr., PG, N.C. State
Smith is the anti-Lonzo Ball. He’s score first, pass second. But that described a ton of elite point guards in the NBA. Look at Russell Westbrook and Damian Lillard. Smith is uber athletic and can punch his way to the rim. His stock dropped after his team didn’t make the NCAA tournament, but if this pick hits he could be one of the best players in this class.
8. Jonathan Isaac, PF, Florida State
The NBA loves long dudes with guard skills, and Isaac’s length, at 6-foot-10, with a 7-foot-1 wingspan, combined with his skill set makes him a tantalizing prospect. Isaac can make 3s and defend at a high level, and projects to be a 3-and-D player from the get go. The problem with Isaac is how he develops. He doesn’t have a large frame, so he won’t be able to play the 5, and he might not have the ball handling skills to create his own shot.
9. Lauri Markkanen, PF, Arizona
7-footers who can shoot are all the rage in the NBA, and Markkanen is just that. There are questions about his defense and toughness, but having a big who can space the floor is too valuable to fall out of the top 10. For the Heat, Markkanen would be a perfect complement to Hassan Whiteside, who can protect the rim while Markkanen spaces the floor for Miami’s attacking guards.
10. Zach Collins, C, Gonzaga
Collins, another near 7-footer, doesn’t have the pure shooting stroke of Markkanen, but he’s NBA-ready defensively. Collins can walk in and start defending opposing 4s and smaller 5s, rebound his position and knock down a few open shots. He’s the best two-way stretch-5 in this class. The only reason he ranks behind Markkanen is because he has a lower ceiling.
11. OG Anunoby, F, Indiana
He tore his ACL early in the college basketball season, but was arguably a top-10 pick before the injury. If the Heat feel comfortable with his health and can wait on his recovery, they could grab the steal of the draft in the middle of the first round. Anunoby is potentially a lock-down perimeter defender with length and athleticism to pair nicely next to Justise Winslow. Anunoby and Winslow could become the league’s most dominant perimeter defense duo, and both have upside on the offensive end of the ball.
12. Justin Jackson, SF, North Carolina
Jackson can get buckets, but don’t sleep on his passing ability. He has good court vision and above-average touch. Would work well as a floor spacer right away and, if he improves his handle, could develop into an extra ball handler in Miami’s drive-and-kick game.
13. T.J. Leaf, PF, UCLA
Leaf’s perimeter shooting, toughness and general gets-buckets-ness makes him a great fit for the Heat, whose biggest team need will likely be power forward. Coming from UCLA’s system, he’s a willing and able passer with enough defensive potential.
14. Isaiah Hartenstein, PF, International
If the Heat are looking for upside on the board when they pick, Hartenstein is it. He has the athleticism and talent to be a future unicorn. Or he can bust.
15. Luke Kennard, G, Duke
This is for my homies worried about Tyler Johnson’s contract. Kennard is a good 3-point shooter and underrated ball handler. He projects as a combo guard at the next level. If Kennard is the best player available, the Heat could take him, look to deal Johnson at the trade deadline, and duck those big third- and fourth-year salaries. Kennard could also be insurance in case the Heat don’t re-sign Dion Waiters.
16. Harry Giles, PF, Duke
Giles is the ultimate bang or bust prospect in the draft. He was the top-rated recruit last season but, at 18 years old, he already has a long history of injuries. He tore his ACL, MCL and meniscus after his freshman year in high school, tore the ACL in his other knee during his senior season, and underwent a knee procedure early in Duke’s season. Giles has the length (6-foot-11, long arms), mobility and talent that makes him an enticing prospect, much in the mold of a young Chris Bosh. It all depends if those knees check out.
If the Heat re-sign its main free agents, thereby clogging up future flexibility, drafting Giles at the end of the lottery could be one way to land a top talent who can increase Miami’s ceiling.
17. Jarrett Allen, C, Texas
18. Justin Patton, C, Creighton
Two centers who are long and athletic. Miami has Whiteside, but Willie Reed could leave in free agency. A core part of the Heat’s defense this season was having 48 minutes of rim protection. Rather than sign an overpriced backup center, the Heat could opt to draft one and solidify its defensive front.
19. Ivan Rabb, PF, Cal
Rabb is a safe pick. He sets good screens, plays good defense, and has nice tough around the rim. Cal didn’t ask him to take many 3s, but he’s flashed potential from long range. If he can develop his shot, he could become a really nice player for someone.
20. Tyler Lydon, F, Syracuse
Think Luke Babbitt, but younger and with a higher ceiling.