Miami Heat big board 4.0: Final update before the NBA Draft
By Wes Goldberg
Who might the Miami Heat have their eyes on in the upcoming NBA Draft, and which prospects fit the team the best? We try to figure it out by building the team’s big board.
Here is the fourth and final installment of the Miami Heat’s draft board. This will be the final update before Thursday’s NBA Draft. It’s important to keep in mind that this is not a general ranking of prospects, but rather a list custom made for the Heat and their needs. This will look different than other, more general, big boards you see.
It’s also meant to reflect the most likely state of the team. Goran Dragic and Hassan Whiteside being the core pieces the team is building around, with Justise Winslow, Tyler Johnson and Josh Richardson as a young and developing support staff.
As much as I’d like assume James Johnson and Dion Waiters will be back–or even that the team will sign Gordon Hayward–remember that the draft happens (for some reason) before free agency. The Heat, as such, will approach the draft not knowing whether or not Johnson and/or Waiters will be back, or even what free agents will be realistic targets (presumably).
More from All U Can Heat
- Grade the Trade: Heat grab Trae Young in shocking proposal
- NBA 2K24 Ratings: Takeaways and reactions to Miami Heat player ratings
- 4 Teams that should trade for Tyler Herro
- Miami Heat’s Nikola Jovic gives entire world reason to love him
- 1 Advantage the Heat have over every Southeast Division team
So given how the team is built–with Goran Dragic leading a drive-and-kick offense and Hassan Whiteside providing the sort of rim protection that allows Miami’s defenders to stay aggressive on the perimeter–Erik Spoelstra, Micky Arison, Pat Riley and the scouting department will be looking for players who can fit within those schemes.
The Heat are by no means a complete team, but a framework is in place. They’ll be looking for players who not only fit within that framework, but can thrive in and improve upon it.
The rankings here reflect the players who can best do that.