The Miami Heat have hosted some amazing talent over the years, especially over the last 20. We decided to see who could draft the best team from that pool.
If you were to ever take a peep at the Miami Heat’s all-time roster, that’s all the players that have ever dawned a Miami Heat uniform, you would notice quite the list of characters among the ranks. From the smallest but biggest of heart, such as Dwyane Wade or Tim Hardaway, to the biggest and bigger on the floor, in LeBron James or Shaquille O’Neal, the Miami Heat have played host to them all.
With that knowledge and our current world situation, it got us over here at AUCH to thinking. We decided that it was only right for a few of us here at All U Can Heat to come together and do an All-Miami Heat draft, but with only players from the last 20 years being available in the pool.
There was another twist thrown in as well. Each player could only be taken once, of course, but on top of simply taking a player, you must choose from which season you would want your version of that player to be. In example, you would likely take that player’s best season in Miami when choosing any player in particular.
The participants were Tristan Tucker, Max Marshall, Rahmeaun Rahming, and myself. We would conduct the draft in a snake draft type order, with Rahmeaun earning the first pick.
The rest of the order went Max, Tristan, and then myself. In the even-numbered rounds, as with any snake draft, the order would reverse from first to fourth with myself going first, Tristan, Max, and then Rahmeaun. In case you haven’t caught on or haven’t done a fantasy draft ever, the order would then go back to the original order for odd numbers.
This, my friends, is where the magic began to happen. Let’s get into it.
Round 1
Rahmeaun Rahming (@Boneman9000)
I had the pleasure of drafting with the number one overall selection in our fantasy snake style selection process. This gave me an advantage, as every player who has worn a Miami Heat uniform since the year 2000 was available to me. I’ll walk you through my draft board in order of the selections, letting you in on why I targeted each player.
Pick One (1st round, 1st pick): 2012-2013 LeBron James
I know. I know. Dwayne Wade is Mr. Miami.
The greatest player the franchise has ever had, BUT, this is a fantasy draft after all and I want my team to be the best. James’ 2013 season was one for the ages.
He led the franchise to its third championship while shooting a career-best 40.6 percent from the 3-point line. Everyone knows what he brings to the roster everywhere else, so no need to go on.
I’ll leave you with this. LeBron James leads the franchise in win shares since the year 2000.
Not only does he hold first place on this list, but he also holds second, third, and fifth as well. Enough said.
Max Marshall (@maxmarshall136)
My initial reaction to any draft is to always take the most talented player on your draft board. With this exception, if you are in a dire need of a position, then have at it.
During this draft, I took my own advice and even though some of my picks perhaps won’t fit on the court as efficiently as some other combinations would, it’s better to have the most talent on the court and then figure everything else later.
Pick Two (1st round, 2nd pick): 2008-2009 Dwyane Wade
During the draft, it wasn’t a surprise that I selected Wade, although they were surprised that I picked the 08-09 Wade instead of the 2006 Wade. I was definitely going back and forth on the pick, but for me, the 08-09 Wade should have won the MVP award.
It was also, honestly for my money, better than any Kobe Bryant season. Also, Wade was at the peak of his powers during this year.
Tristan Tucker (@TristanHeatNBA)
Pick Three (1st round, 3rd pick): 2014-2015 Chris Bosh
At the third pick, the two best players in Miami Heat history were already off the board. I looked at which positions would be the hardest to fill later in the draft and decided to go ahead with selecting a stretch-five, Chris Bosh.
I decided to go with Bosh’s best scoring season with the Heat and his best 3-point shooting season, 2014-15. Bosh averaged 21.1 points, seven rebounds, and 2.2 assists en route to being named to his 10th All-Star Game. The 6’11” big man shot 38% from deep on nearly four attempts per game, helping to pave the way for many current stretch-bigs in the league.
Kenneth Wilson (@Ksaidwhat)
Pick Four (1st round, 4th pick): 2019-2020 Jimmy Butler
Is there really a need to say much here? The guy has made every team that he has played on extremely better and there has been a significant dropoff on every team that he’s left. Come on people, it isn’t rocket science, it’s the Jimmy Effect.
You also give him extreme credit for these two reasons, he’s led the Miami Heat towards being one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference and the entire NBA, while he is arguably having the best complete season of his career from a performance, overall statistical, and meaningfulness to team’s success standpoint.
Besides, LeBron, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh were all of the board, plus I had the first pick in the next round. That’s why I went with Jimmy here.
Round 2
Kenneth
Pick Five (2nd round, 1st pick): 2004-2005 Shaquille O’Neal
Even in the small ball era of basketball, Shaquille O’Neal would still be dominant. If you don’t think so, then you don’t watch the same game that I do or you simply haven’t seen Shaq’s work.
While this wasn’t the Miami Heat’s first championship year, 2005-06, this was the best version of him that Miami ever saw. He had a better season that year than he did in his final with LA, while his numbers in that first year were considerably higher across the board in every major statistical category than his second year with the Heat.
Small ball, big ball, any ball, Shaq would dominate in the paint and shots at the rim wouldn’t be the easiest to come by either.
Tristan
Pick Six (2nd round, 2nd pick): 2019-2020 Bam Adebayo
With my sixth pick, I had yet another clear choice, as a frontcourt pairing of Bam Adebayo and Bosh would be nightmarish to deal with. This pairing is one that Heat fans have dreamt of for years and could have been something amazing in real life had Bosh not been forced to retire.
The goal with this frontcourt is to have bigs that can distribute the ball well and generate their own offense, meaning I do not have to focus on getting a big name point guard right away.
The combo of Bosh and Adebayo averages 7.3 assists per game combined. The only other frontcourt that comes close to this is Kenneth’s, who average 6.8 assists per game. Adebayo is also a reliable four and strong rebounder, averaging 16.2 points and 10.5 rebounds per game.
This version of Adebayo is one of only nine Heat players to be All-Stars. He can thank the way he transformed his game this past season to become one of the most versatile bigs in the league.
Max
Pick Seven (2nd round, 3rd pick): 2014-2015 Hassan Whiteside
The second pick isn’t something I’m proud of but as I said, you pick the best available! Sadly, that was Hassan Whiteside at that moment.
Yes, I know he’s every Miami Heat fan’s least favorite player, but I picked the 2014-15 version of Whiteside. This Version of Whiteside was his most athletic version of himself, which for my team, is the most perfect version of him.
On this team, Whiteside only needs to defend, block shots, rebound, run the floor, and be a lob threat. Only if Whiteside wanted to do this consistently during his time in Miami.
Rahmeaun
Pick Eight (2nd round, 4th pick): 2000-2001 Anthony Mason
Since I picked first overall, I knew that Chris Bosh wouldn’t be available at eight, but I knew I needed shooting in the frontcourt. After racking my brain thinking of who I could put at the power forward position to space the floor, I realized there wasn’t anyone who fit the bill, so I had to get a little creative.
I had to have Anthony Mason with my second selection. Not because he spaced the floor but because he was a dog on defense. He only played one year in Miami, but that happened to coincide with his lone all-star appearance as well.
This gives James an attack dog on the defensive end without taking anything away from behind the arc. Mason attempted a total of zero 3-pointers that season.
If James can win championships with Joel Anthony starting at center, surely Erik Spoelstra could come up with a way to use Anthony Mason without crowding LeBron James. To top things off and since the year 2000, this Anthony Mason season ranks ninth in win shares (above Shaquille O’Neal in ‘04-‘05) and number one in defensive win shares. Good look scoring on this duo.
Round 3
Rahmeaun
Pick Nine (3rd round, 1st pick): 2001-2002 Eddie Jones
Since I had back to back picks, I knew I could finally relax. For the most part, I could see how the draft was going with some of my secondary guys in certain positions being taken.
I couldn’t believe that Eddie Jones fell this far, so I was more than happy to make this selection. The adage in basketball stands true here.
Shooters shoot. And this team desperately needed an outside touch. Jones filled that void with two made threes per game to put him at seventh since the year 2000 in that category.
This pick was special because not only did he make a high rate of threes, he did this without being a specialist like other members of Miami Heat Nation ranked higher on this list. To go along with his shooting touch, he ranks second in defensive win shares only behind Anthony Mason (who’s already on my roster).
Max
Pick 10 (3rd round, 2nd pick): 2017-2018 Goran Dragic
As I was looking at my draft board, it was only role players left for the most part, but I noticed that Dragic was still available. Again, you pick the best available!
That’s what I did by selecting the 2017-18 All-Star version of Goran Dragic. Now I know Dragic and Dwyane Wade didn’t really fit well together on the court at times, but let’s not act like it was terrible.
Could they have been better? Yeah, they could have but it wasn’t the absolute worst either. Having prime Wade on my team, I’m in need of a secondary scorer and should more than have that with Dragic.
Tristan
Pick 11 (3rd round, 3rd pick): 2014-2015 Luol Deng
With the 11th pick, I was heavily targeting some version of Eddie Jones, who was one of the most underrated and consistent scorers in Miami Heat history. Unfortunately, Jones went ninth overall, meaning I needed to shift my attention to someone that could switch onto LeBron James if needed. I settled on Luol Deng, who was also underrated in his time with the Heat.
In the 2014-15 season, Deng averaged 14 points per game, shot 36% from deep, and was a versatile defender in both of his seasons with the Heat. Deng also was a proven commodity in big games, going off when given the opportunity. While this is not the flashiest pick and while there are arguments for other players here, I think Deng gives me the most versatile defender left on the board.
Kenneth
Pick 12 (3rd round, 4th pick): 2019-2020 Duncan Robinson
This one is easy. Simply put, the man is the best shooter in the league today, bar none. That’s why you take Duncan Robinson from this season.
While the team around Robinson that I drafted is capable of knocking down the long ball, they aren’t the most adept. However, whereas most of them are pretty elite from the mid-range on down to the rim, you need someone who can be the ultimate one-man spacing if need be.
Duncan Robinson is that guy. His three-point percentage, to a tune of nearly 45 percent on over eight attempts per game, is more than indicative of such.
Round 4
Kenneth
Pick 13 (4th round, 1st pick): 2018-2019 Josh Richardson
The next three picks were money in the bank, as the fact that I was able to land my first three picks in the positions that I did would indicate that they would all be available. If you think it’s just talk, note the fact that on two occasions, I was able to nab four players that Tristan would have selected immediately after me.
Josh Richardson was a no brainer with this selection and for as deep as it was in the draft. To get a combo guard, who could guard the opposing best wing if need be, handle the ball, create for himself and others, while also having the ability to knock down a shot if you needed him to, it was an easy pick.
With Shaq in the middle, it would be a lot of 4 out with him in the paint, meaning four perimeter comfortable guys along the wing to give him space. J Rich would fit right in here, needing no specific role to contribute mightily, while being able to do anything that may need to be done on the floor at any given moment.
Tristan
Pick 14 (4th round, 2nd pick): 2019-2020 Kendrick Nunn
With this pick, I was targeting a shooting guard and really wanted either Duncan Robinson or Josh Richardson to join my team. Of course, that meant both players went at 12 and 13 respectively (Kenneth must have been in my head).
That forced me to reach a little bit with this pick, but thankfully Kendrick Nunn has the ability to explode for big scoring performances on the fly.
In just this year of his rookie season, Nunn averaged 15.6 points while shooting 36% from deep. Nunn started in all 62 games he appeared in and while he was not the most well-regarded defender, he can easily be covered up on the wing by Deng.
What I needed from my shooting guard is strictly a scoring ability. With multiple 30+ point games and Rookie of the Month awards under his belt, Nunn best fit what I needed with this pick.
Max
Pick 15 (4th round, 3rd pick): 2005-2006 James Posey
As I was looking at my team, I wanted the rest of the starting lineup to be 3 & D guys. I got just that with James Posey and one of the original versions.
It actually quite funny with Posey, he is a tweener, but not classically. He isn’t a tweener in that he doesn’t have a role to play, being big and strong enough to slot into the power forward nicely, while agile and skilled enough to do the same as the three.
He is a tweener in that he could be either a 3 & D guy, a small-ball four, or both in today’s league. The more you think about it though, those were his exact roles even back then, just by different names and whatever they were calling those positions in his era.
In any event, many people sleep on Posey’s defense during the 2006 NBA Finals and more importantly, on Dirk Nowitzki. Posey made it hard for Nowitzki to feel comfortable on the floor, while also nailing big threes on the other end. Every team could use a James Posey and especially my team here.
Rahmeaun
Pick 16 (4th round, 4th pick): 2000-2001 Tim Hardaway
The greatest point guard in Miami Heat history fell to my squad with my fourth pick. We’ve all seen the toll it takes on LeBron James when he has to do all the playmaking for his teams.
At some point, he begins to look beatable. Sure, Hardaway is a little over the hill at 34 years old, but he brings the veteran presence with the physical skills necessary to be a secondary ball-handler to James.
This season was one in which he averaged six assists and a steal per game. His shooting splits weren’t the greatest, but his job on this team would be to distribute the ball and get buckets when he could.
Don’t count him out on the perimeter though, either. He still shot one percentage point above 35-percent from deep, which was league average fro that season. The inability to sag off should create more driving lanes for James.
Round 5
Rahmeaun
Pick 17 (5th round, 1st pick): 2019-2020 Meyers Leonard
This was an easy pick for me as I assumed there was no way another person would take him before me, so I left him to my second to last pick to round out my starting five. Since I didn’t necessarily get floor spacing with the Mason pick, I needed to make sure I did so with my center.
Meyers Leonard fits the mold perfectly. He’s shot above 40-percent for three consecutive seasons on increased attempts. In case you forgot, he was leading the NBA at one point this season in 3-point percentage.
With guys like James and Hardaway attracting heavy attention from the defense, he should be even more open than he is with Jimmy Butler on the court. He’ll play down low on defense with those great loud call-outs we’ve grown accustomed to, but on offense, he’ll have the green light from behind the arc.
Max
Pick 18 (5th round, 2nd pick): 2012-2013 Shane Battier (Game 7 NBA Finals version)
As I said that every team needs a James Posey, you also need a Shane Battier! Especially if we are talking the 2013 NBA Finals Game 7 version of Battier!
Battier is the perfect role player for my team or any team, just like Posey. Both guys know their roles and will do extremely well in them.
Having people that know their roles in any sport or job always makes life easier. Also and again specifically on that Game 7 version of Shane Battier, I’m taking him every time!
Tristan
Pick 19 (5th round, 3rd pick): 2004-2005 Damon Jones
With pick 19, I had my eyes set on the 2000-01 version of Tim Hardaway that had slipped more than I had imagined it would, even though it was a watered-down version of the guard we all know. With his selection at pick 16, I had to get creative.
Ultimately for me, it was between Damon Jones, Mario Chalmers, and Jason Williams with this pick, I safely landed on Jones.
Jones’ one season in Miami is never mentioned, but he put up his career-best numbers here. The guard put up 11.6 points per game and 4.3 assists per game, very similar numbers to who some might think would have been an obvious choice in Williams.
The guard started 66 games for the Heat and shot 43% from downtown on six attempts per game. Jones was a good enough distributor in his time with the Heat that the difference between him and any of the other point guards was negligible in that aspect, while his shooting was better than anything available. In fact, his shooting marks are among the best in Heat history, so take that for a sleeper pick.
Kenneth
Pick 20 (5th round, 4th pick): 2004-05 Lamar Odom
Lamar Odom was only with the Miami Heat for one season, this 2004-05 season, but he made the most of it. While it is arguably his best complete season as a pro, it is at worst, a top-three season for his career.
Odom is a guard in a power forwards body and while he would slot in as the four for my lineup, he would be able to have free reign of the ball and the floor if he wanted it. Being able to create for himself and others at a very high rate, while also having the ability to do the things defensively that not many others can, he would be an ideal pairing next to Shaq.
The team would practically be positionless, with no true point guard, allowing everyone to initiate offense at some point except Shaq. L.O. would certainly see his fair share of the lead guard duties with this squad though.
Round 6
Kenneth
Sixth Man- Pick 21 (6th round, 1st pick): 2002-2003 Caron Butler
Last, but not least, would be Caron Butler. Although only two short years with the Miami Heat, the Heat’s 2002 first-round draft pick was a firecracker in his first year. That is why that is the year we took.
Always the one to do the dirty work, the league had begun to adjust to him during his second year, which means he would have to make the adjustments moving forward and he did. Unfortunately, the Miami Heat never gave him the chance to do it there, as he was traded after just his second season with the team in the Shaq deal.
As far as how he would fit with this team as the sixth man though, the answer is “perfectly”. Being adept at doing a little bit of everything, but mostly getting buckets, he would be tasked with doing just that as the leader of the second unit
As Goran Dragic has done for this season’s version of the Miami heat, so to would Caron Butler do for my team. As long as he can come in and put up a flurry in a hurry, he would get more minutes than he could handle. That is why I drafted Caron Butler.
Tristan
Sixth Man-Pick 22 (6th round, 2nd pick): 2001-2002 Alonzo Mourning
With my last pick, I decided to take the best player available. Lamar Odom and Caron Butler were taken right before me, unfortunately (Both to Kenneth, again), but I was still left with a few great options including Brian Grant, Shawn Marion, and others.
Alonzo Mourning made the most sense to me though, as I figured he could slide in and move Bosh to the four if a more resounding frontcourt presence is required. Mourning was in the twilight of his career at this point, but still put up 15.7 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game.
The case for my team is that I have inarguably the best grouping of frontcourt players drafted and that my team fits the most cohesively together. I might not have the star power that Rahmeaun or Max do or the high-scoring prowess that Kenneth does, but my team plays the best together.
I also drafted one of the toughest bunches so I feel good about my players being able to hold their own against their star opponents. My team also shoots the best from the floor of all the teams, while also being among the best in rebounding.
Max
Sixth Man- Pick 23 (6th round, 3rd pick): 2016-2017 Dion Waiters
I’ve always liked having an irrational confidence guy on my basketball team and especially as my Sixth Man. He can win you a game, just as much as he can lose you a game, but that “irrational confidence” is the definition of risk/reward.
2016-17 Dion Waiters was the best Waiters we have seen in his NBA career. Does anyone remember the buzzer-beaters he hit that year?
Remember the Golden State game or the Brooklyn game? I know Miami fans were always up and down with Waiters’ tenure in Miami but that 2016-2017 version was special. This was the team I drafted.
Rahmeaun
Sixth Man-Pick 24 (6th round, 4th pick): 2015-2016 Joe Johnson
Joe Johnson is a walking bucket. Even as recently as the BIG 3, Iso Joe is a name known all around the basketball community.
I wanted to bring someone off the bench who could be counted on to create his own shot off the bounce without mailing it in too bad on the defensive end. His stint wasn’t long in Miami, but I couldn’t let his talents slip through my fingers since I put such an emphasis on defense with this team.
I don’t know who told him Utah would be the place to sign in free agency the following year, but to each his own. He can get buckets for my squad anytime though. This was the team I drafted.
Summary
It was one heck of a draft. For one last look, here are the complete teams.
Rahmeaun– 2012-13 LeBron James, 2000-01 Anthony mason, 2001-02 Eddie Jones, 2000-01 Tim Hardaway, 2019-20 Meyers Leonard, and 2015-2016 Joe Johnson
Max– 2008-09 Dwyane Wade, 2015-15 Hassan Whiteside, 2017-18 Goran Dragic, 2005-06 James Posey, 2012-13 (Finals) Shane Battier, and 2016-17 Dion Waiters
Tristan– 2014-15 Chris Bosh, 2019-20 Bam Adebayo, 2014-15 Luol Deng, 2019-20 Kendrick Nunn, 2004-05 Damon Jones, and 01-02 Alonzo Mourning
Kenneth– 2019-20 Jimmy Butler, 2004-05 Shaq, 2019-20 Duncan Robinson, 2018-19 Josh Richardson, 2004-05 Lamar Odom, and 2002-03 Caron Butler
Tell us how we did! Use the official AUCH Twitter account or either of us above.
We would love to hear your opinion! Until next time though, this has been an all-Time Miami Heat draft AUCH Roundtable.