The Miami Heat need resources but don’t have a ton of assets. Can Precious Achiuwa become one of those for them?
Back in November of 2020, the Miami Heat selected Nigerian big man Precious Achiuwa of the Memphis Tigers with the 20th pick in the first round. While in hindsight players like Tyrese Maxey and Desmond Bane who were picked after Achiuwa seem like better contributors, it is hard to judge Achiuwa on his rookie campaign. He did not have an offseason or the NBA Summer League under his belt to get some much-needed NBA experience.
Achiuwa is still a very raw talent and struggled to adjust to the fast pace of the NBA. While this means he has a lot of potential, it also means he is one of the Heat’s most valuable trade assets. With that in mind, here are a couple of routes Miami could go in terms of what to do with Precious.
1. Precious gets dealt for an upgrade
As mentioned earlier, Achiuwa has a lot of potential. He is very young and still needs to refine his skills, but he could be a player in the mold of someone like Montrezl Harrell. While he may not reach that potential, the possibility of him doing so is what makes him a key trade piece for the Miami Heat. If the Heat want to land a big name through trade, then Achiuwa will almost certainly be included in the deal.
Trades for players like Collin Sexton, Damian Lillard, and John Collins (in a sign and trade), would obviously require Tyler Herro – the Heat’s biggest asset at the moment. However, they would also require Achiuwa, who is right there in terms of value.
While I do think that the best option for both Aniuwa and the Heat would be for a trade to be made, I would only make the trade to get a player that could make a real difference in return. Trading Achiuwa to get another role player whose impact might not make a significant difference seems like a waste of his value and a waste of what he has the potential to become.
Let’s not forget the Heat’s incredible history of developing players. With an offseason and the Summer League under his belt, Achiuwa might come back better than ever and ready to make his mark.
The Miami Heat drafted Precious Achiuwa for a reason. Might they continue to stand on that reasoning with his development?
While the Heat are more than likely going to trade Achiuwa if the chance to land a star presents itself, there is also a chance that he stays on the roster. Achiuwa will most likely play for the second unit as a front-court of him and Bam Adebayo would provide very little spacing. If they decide to keep him, the Miami Heat will be hoping that he can take a leap to make a more significant impact in terms of scoring and rebounding.
2. The Miami Heat take a chance on Precious
Like widely reported, the 2020 rookie class did not get a chance to have an offseason or to participate in the NBA Summer League. Both allow young players to get the chance to get accustomed to the fast-paced style of the NBA. With this in mind, it is hard to judge any player on how well they did when thrown right into the thick of it. They barely had a chance to get ready or get used to how different the NBA is from college ball.
Make no mistake, Achiuwa was underwhelming in most of the games he played this season. He averaged about five points and three rebounds per game. However, there is a silver lining. In the 4 starts he got, Achiuwa averaged 14.5 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game in his rookie campaign.
Those are very solid numbers for a 20-year-old player in his first season. After a full offseason under his belt, Achiuwa could make a big leap and become a real contributor for the Miami Heat. They struggled with rebounding when Adebayo was on the bench, so if Achiuwa is able to really improve this offseason, he could be the second unit’s main rebounder and help on the glass.
The Miami Heat could opt for a do-over, prospect wise. That might mean going for something else, other than Achiuwa, in the NBA Draft.
Personally, I think that trading Achiuwa, who is already familiar with the organization and staff, for a chance to draft a different young player who is completely unfamiliar sounds a little redundant. However, if the Heat can get a draft pick early enough to draft a player who could come right in and contribute, then I think that Pat Riley might pull the trigger. If the Heat can get themselves into the late lottery by attaching a future first or second to a deal surrounding Achiuwa, then I see that trade being made.
3. The Miami Heat enter the 2021 NBA Draft
Players projected to go late in the lottery or right after include Corey Kispert, Ayo Dosunmu, and Franz Wagner. All of those players could come in and make an instant impact off the bench for Miami, and would probably eclipse Achiuwa’s current production.
The idea of adding a Duncan Robinson type of sniper to the second unit with Kispert is a mouth-watering concept. Dosunmu was a creative force for Illinois last season and could provide a creative spark from the bench. Wagner would be an incredibly well-balanced wing that could provide creativity and scoring.
I would not trade Achiuwa for anything lower than the 16th pick. I think the Heat could add an impactful piece with a late lottery or early post-lottery pick. However, it would be foolish to trade Achiuwa for another raw talent who can’t come in and contribute right away.
Obviously, the Heat have many options to consider when it comes to the future of Precious Achiuwa. The most likely scenario seems to be that he gets traded, but you never know with Pat Riley and Erik Spoelstra.