Oregon’s improbable Final Four run was built around their two do-everything forwards, Dillon Brooks and Jordan Bell. Both players have Miami Heat DNA.
If you haven’t had a chance to watch Oregon play this season, I highly recommend you change that Saturday night, when they face North Carolina in the Final Four. Especially if you’re a fan of the Miami Heat.
Why is that?
I just have a feeling you’ll fall in love with a couple of their players — Dillon Brooks and Jordan Bell.
Visualize two guys with Heat DNA, who would fit right into the culture Pat Riley and Erik Spoelstra built. Big men who are tough, versatile, defend at elite levels and care about winning more than chasing stats.
That’s exactly who Brooks and Bell are. And that’s why either player would be the perfect fit with Miami’s current roster.
Although they’re still projected to go early in the second round of the 2017 NBA Draft, both are seeing their stock soar thanks to their play in the NCAA Tournament.
Let’s take a closer look at these two excellent young players, and surmise how they would help the Heat.
Dillon Brooks: Miami’s stretch-4 of the future?
Of the two prospects, Brooks is the better offensive player. On the year, the junior is averaging 16.3 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.8 assists per contest. He’s a knockdown three-point shooter at 41 percent, while also being an adept finisher on the inside, nailing 54 percent of his attempts from 2-point range.
His most impressive performance of the year came on Dec. 30, when Oregon hosted the USC Trojans. On that night, Brooks scored 28 points, grabbed three rebounds, dished out three assists and made all four of his threes.
Oh, and those 28 points he scored came on a total of 10 field goal attempts. No, not a typo. He seriously freaking scored 28 points on 10 shots.
Absurd efficiency aside, Brooks is also a plus defender, has a great feel for the game and isn’t afraid to take big shots. If he were 6-foot-10 as opposed to 6-foot-7, he would be a lottery pick. Alas, his lack of size makes it difficult to project him as an NBA 4. He’s probably destined to be a wing, who can play spot minutes at the position. At his best, Brooks could be Miami’s younger version of James Johnson.
He would still be considered a reach at Miami’s projected draft range in the middle of the first, and the team doesn’t have a second-round pick. However, don’t forget that in 2013 when Riley fell in love with a certain James Ennis late in the second round, he didn’t hesitate to buy a pick in order to take him.
If not monetarily, Miami could also trade down from the middle of the first round (which would make some sense, considering the talent available there may not fit Miami’s needs), for a late first rounder and a second-round pick. They could then use the latter selection on Brooks, or the guy we’re about to talk about.
Jordan Bell: Ben Wallace 2.0?
Brooks is the better offensive player, but Bell has the hotter draft stock. An unreal tournament run has taken him from deep in the second round to the fringes of the first on Draft Express’ latest predictions.
Since the tourney began, Bell is scoring 12.5 points per contest, to go with 12.5 boards, 1.8 assists and 2.8 blocks per game. He has successfully converted 22 of his last 30 attempts from the field, while dominating very good teams.
Against Kansas’ elite offense (fifth in the country in efficiency according to KenPom), the junior power forward had 11 points, 13 rebounds, four assists, and blocked eight shots. It was the defensive showing of the year, bar none.
There are questions about his size (just 6-foot-9 with an all-too-ordinary 6-foot-11 wingspan), and his ability to play the 4 in today’s NBA. He’s not much of an offensive threat outside the paint, though his skill level has improved (70.5 percent from the foul line this season, up from 51.3 in his first two years).
As his ability to score from beyond 5-to-7 feet continues too improve, he could serve as the Heat’s backup center of the future. At the very least, he could be an improvement over the sneaky solid Willie Reed.
Next: UNC's Justin Jackson is the Heat's dream draft pick
Furthermore, what Miami would lose in spacing with a potential Bell-and-Hassan Whiteside frontcourt, they would make up for by being among the most fearsome defensive tandems in the league. Bell is as an absurd rim protector, with the capability to defend stretch-4’s, while being one of the most ferocious rebounders in college basketball.
When Oregon and North Carolina tip off Saturday, keep an eye on the Brooks-Bell duo. From an intangible perspective, there may not be a better fit for the Heat in the entire draft.