Miami Heat Roundtable: Who should they take with the 20th pick?

The Miami Heat love guys that are willing to outwork you. Does Kira Lewis Jr. fit that mold?

Sam Allen (@WarSamEagle) – Kira Lewis Jr.- G- Alabama

For a state that’s generally known for football, Alabama will have two potential lottery picks in Auburn’s Isaac Okoro and Alabama’s Kira Lewis Jr. If the Heat do decide to actually make their pick at 20, Lewis would be a fantastic fit to an already stellar squad.

Here’s a quick breakdown of Kira’s stats during his two years in Tuscaloosa.

2019: 13.5 PPG, 2.9 APG, 2.6 RPG, 2.2 TO, 43.3 FG%, 35.8 3P%, 78.3 FT%
2020: 18.5 PPG, 5.2 APG, 4.8 RPG, 3.5 T0, 45.9FG%, 36.6 3P%, 80.2 FT%

Plain and simple, Kira Lewis got significantly better during his second season at Alabama under head coach Nate Oates. His statistical numbers went up across the board, his percentages went up, and all while playing 6 minutes more per game than he did in 2019.

What’s most impressive about Lewis is his play in the pick and roll. Not only can he get to the rim at will, but Kira can also find the open man. A potential pick and roll game with Kira and Bam Adebayo would feast on defenses.

Kira also shows promise around the rim, as watching the film is almost like watching Goran Dragic in the way that Lewis can create shots underneath. If Miami does decide to bring the veteran point guard back, he would be a fantastic mentor to the potential Heat rookie.

The one area of concern for Lewis is his three-point shot. His mechanics are…interesting to say the least. It’s not as bad as Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, but the Heat coaching staff are going to need to refine his shot if he’s going to be an effective three-point shooter in the league.

If Miami does decide to draft Kira Lewis Jr, he would be a strong playmaker off the bench and could even play crunch time minutes.