Miami Heat: 1 Bold Prediction for KZ Okpala’s 2020-21 Season
The Miami Heat landed enigmatic wing, KZ Okpala, in the second round of last year’s NBA Draft. He should finally get his shot this season.
The Miami Heat are great when it comes to finding, scouting, drafting, and developing talent. So, with that in mind, we have no worries when it comes to the guys that they choose to bring in.
Whether that guy blossoms into a rotational or NBA player for the Miami Heat, another team, or doesn’t at all, the Heat have earned our patience and trust in the area with their record in the arena over the past few years. That is 100 percent accurate, just for clarity.
With this also in mind, they took a guy in last year’s NBA Draft that is pretty mysterious yet still very interesting. That would be one 6’8″ KZ Okpala, who they took out of Stanford last season.
With a wiry strong body and a skillset that pretty much allowed him to be one of, if not the singular, main ball handlers during his time at Stanford, many thought that KZ could come in to immediately challenge DJJ for his role with the team. Needless to say, that didn’t happen.
But, Derrick Jones Jr. is no longer with the team. That leaves an opening in the rotation and a need for a guy that can do some of the things that he did for Miami.
The Miami Heat have shown to take chances on guys with freaky attributes and/or potential. KZ Okpala definitely fits that mold.
Enter KZ Okpala. That also fits right with our bold prediction for his season.
In as many or fewer minutes, KZ will match or come very close to DJJ’s statistical output last season
I know, it sounds crazy, but it’s actually not as daunting as it seems. Let’s look a little closer.
In 23.3 minutes per game last season for the Miami Heat, Jones Jr. averaged 8.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists, one steal, and 0.6 of a block per game. All KZ has to do to fulfill his prediction is average at least seven points per contest, 2.5 rebounds, 0.8 assists or above, a half steal or better, and a half block per game.
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He is fully capable of that with his skillset, body, and athleticism. Now, he has to earn the minutes but that’s on him, earning the minutes.
If he can do that, I fully expect him to shine in his time. That’s why I believe this prediction isn’t really that bold at all.