The Miami Heat fill their need for a backup center with the 14th pick in the NBA Draft.
With their top targets no longer available, the Miami Heat select Kentucky center Bam Adebayo with the No. 14 pick in the NBA Draft.
The Heat were reportedly interested in Gonzaga’s Zach Collins, Louisville’s Donovan Mitchell and Duke’s Luke Kennard, but with all three of them being select before Miami’s pick, the Heat took a center who may have been the best available player on their board.
Adebayo, 19, is a is a 6-foot-10 center, with a 7-foot-3 wingspan, and projects as a rim runner and rim protector in the NBA. He averaged 13 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game last season.
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Adebayo is a good rebounder and, with some coaching, should develop into a strong overall defender. He’s naturally quicker and more agile than Miami’s starting center Hassan Whiteside, who he should back up with the Heat.
Speaking of: The selection of Adebayo likely means that Willie Reed, their backup center last season, will not be re-signed. Adebayo provides a lot of upside, and should provide head coach Erik Spoelstra with 48 minutes of athletic rim protection.
The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor compared Adebayo to Bismack Biyombo.
"“Quick and explosive leaper with good hands and coordination at the rim. Runs the floor hard. … Predictably high defensive upside due to measurables if he receives proper instruction. Can move laterally and protect the rim.”"
All in all, this isn’t a bad selection for the Heat given who was on the board. They filled a need, without reaching for a guard and adding to the glut in the backcourt. Miami has taken care of one concern, and can address its other needs in free agency.
Adebayo is raw, but he’ll have time to develop in a system that has gotten the most out of its centers recently.
Overall, it’s a value pick that could end up paying off. Maybe it’s not a home run, but it’s only one part of Miami’s offseason.