In a perfect world, the Miami Heat could draft Michael Porter Jr.
Who would the Miami Heat select in this year’s draft, if they had a pick?
The Miami Heat don’t have a pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. Team president Pat Riley has been quoted extensively on his policies leading up to the Heat’s offseason, regularly disparaging the idea of building a team through the draft.
"“To be really honest with you, I’m not a draft pick guy,” Riley said at the season’s end. “You know that.”"
The last time the Heat had a draft pick was 2017, when they chose Bam Adebayo at No. 10.
Adebayo, an athletic forward who brandished flashes of defensive brilliance this season, appeared an odd choice on draft night last year, as Miami had Hassan Whiteside coming off a fluorescent season, in addition to front court support from Willie Reed and James Johnson.
Despite sitting 10 of his first 20 games, Adebayo eventually proved a perfect fit for Miami, running the second unit’s front court with Kelly Olynyk. His athleticism and willingness to jump into the fray, fit Miami’s tenacious identity, bringing with it a few show-stopping dunks as well.
Miami doesn’t own a draft pick again until 2019, and it seems unlikely that they make a move for one tonight. But in a perfect world, with a selection in 2018, who would they pick?
Pace, space, and a whole lotta grace
Although the Heat clinched sixth place in the Eastern Conference, their season was rife with highs and lows. Just a half game separated them from the eighth spot. And, if it weren’t for the ninth place Detroit Pistons taking a sharp u-turn at the crossroads of success and glory, Miami very well could have missed the playoffs altogether.
Miami’s tenacity, owed to their collective youth and general go-getter-ness, was enough to excite all season long, but meant little to secure long strings of successes. The roster was well rounded, with plenty of playmaking, shooting and defense to go around, but the Heat seldom flipped the, “hey, we’re really good switch” for long.
Their struggles, which came under a microscope in the playoffs, stem from a lack of offensive insurance. Every Heat player was prone to wild swings in productivity, with huge games bisected by modest outings.
Statistically, Miami was a middle of the pack team in terms of pace (15th) and 3-point percentage (16th), at times leaving the team with an air of “who are they”?
Drafting this year could at least nudge those problems away, as Miami could obtain a potentially future star player to accompany its lovably flexible roster. In this perfect world, Miami could have their pick of the litter, able to address issues of scoring consistency while fitting into the mold of head coach Erik Spoelstra’s positionless play.
The obvious answer would be to select DeAndre Ayton, the draft’s undisputed top talent. Ayton provides a physicality that would make Whiteside expendable if he and Miami part ways, while creating a devastatingly athletic front court with Adebayo.
However, with the current trajectory of Miami’s roster built around positional fluidity, Michael Porter Jr. might slot in best in South Beach.
Porter, whose name has flirted with a selection as high as No. 2 to the Sacramento Kings, carries with him a demon. There is no shortage of reports on his spinal disc injury and hip ailments, which limited him to three games played at his alma mater Missouri.
Still, Porter would yield Miami the greatest mix of all-purpose scoring and lineup flexibility.
At 6-foot-10, Porter stands toe-to-toe with Adebayo while offering a skillset closer to Josh Richardson. Never one to shy away from the 3, Porter’s jumper soars over the heads of earnest defenders, leaving them at his mercy.
Athletic enough to push the break, Porter also fits into Miami’s preference for the half-court. His go-go-gadget limbs could be a mold to become a respectable passer, dishing to Miami’s scorers inside and out.
As a lanky forward, Porter would give Spoelstra the option to mix-and-match rotations. The Heat toyed with Justise Winslow at point guard this season. Porter’s lengthy addition would give the Heat a lineup that mirrors the Philadelphia 76ers’ successful starting five.
The Sixers fielded four players standing 6-foot-10-plus all season, creating matchup nightmares for smaller minded teams. With Porter, Miami could do something to that effect, utilizing his reach alongside that of Winslow, Richardson, Adebayo and Olynyk.
Injury skepticism around Porter is a fair shake, though he proved indefatigable through his draft workouts.
"“It’s a possibility,” Porter told Sporting News. “I feel good. … I got evaluated. I let the doctors come in and do all their tests on me. I’m feeling good. I think the teams are comfortable, but I might get a couple workouts in.”"
Every draft comes bundled with a healthy amount of risk.
The injury-riddled Greg Odens of drafts past are enough to scare off even the most willing suitors. But for every Oden there are Blake Griffins, Ben Simmons and Joel Embiids, who turn injury misfortune into a winning formula.
Next: Miami Heat: 15 best draft picks in franchise history
If only Miami had a draft pick this year.