5 power forwards the Miami Heat could target in the 2017 NBA Draft

Lauri Markkanen (Arizona)

Power forward is the weakest position in the 2017 class. Thus, Draft Express has Lauri Markkanen out of Arizona as the first one taken, but not until the eighth pick to Philadelphia. Why the 76ers would possibly want another big man is beyond me.

What cannot be questioned though, is Markkanen’s talent level. The Finnish 7-footer has ideal size for play the 4 in today’s NBA. He may lack the length to become a great rim protector at the pro level, but his pure skill is what sets him apart as a prospect.

Like a lot of other European big men before him, Markkanen is an exceptional shooter. He’s currently making 44 percent of his three point attempts and 83 percent of his free throws. He also leads his team in scoring and rebounding, at 16 points and seven boards per game.

Markkanen isn’t just a spot-up shooter either. He can also get buckets off the dribble, which is what makes him so enticing to NBA teams. Just watch the following clip:

You will see that the Finnish power forward catches the ball at his preferred area: the three-point line. He notices his defender is off-balance, so he quickly takes two power dribbles with his weak hand. And he finishes the move by rising up at the elbow, and nailing the midrange jumper over the smaller guard. Not an easy move for anyone to make. Let alone a 19-year-old kid.

Just so you could see his abilities as a spot-up shooter as well, observe:

End of shot clock situation, Markkanen ends up with the ball and a guard covering him. With three seconds left before a violation, he rose confidently, with just a foot on the NBA three-point line, and nailed the shot. Impressive.

As far as his defense goes, I mentioned that he lacks length, making it difficult to project him as an NBA shot-blocker. And though he’s not the athlete that some of the other guys in his draft class are, he does possess one trait that will help him at the next level: quick feet. That attribute is vitally important in today’s NBA. A lot of the top defenses in the league have a big man who can switch onto guards, and disrupt pick-and-roll situations.

Heat fans will remember that they used to have a player with a similar ability. Here you can see what I mean (via SBNation):

Here’s Markkanen in a similar situation:

It would be unfair to compare the Arizona freshman to Chris Bosh, who’s going to be in the Hall of Fame one day. But Bosh also had quick feet, and a capability to switch, which made him one of the best big men defenders in the NBA. Markkanen has the potential to be similarly disruptive.

Even if he never becomes a shot-blocker, it’s fair to point out that Bosh never became one either (the most he ever averaged was 1.4). However, there’s more than one way to be considered a great defensive player. And being able to cover players a foot smaller than you long enough to torpedo an opposing team’s offensive set is one of them.

The much easier comparison to be made between the two power forwards is that they’re both phenomenal shooters. As far as Miami is concerned, that means Markkanen could fill the same role left behind by Bosh. If the team does keep Dragic, the pick-and-pop possibilities that were originally meant for the point guard and the Heat’s former star, could be very tempting for Riley.

For an even more detailed outlook on Markkanen’s potential (and shortcomings), I highly recommend this piece from The Step Back.