Even though it is historically rare for a team to find a future star player late in the first round of the NBA Draft, there's still an outside chance that the Miami Heat could find a hidden gem with the No. 20 overall pick. It's happened before, and in such a deep draft, Miami should feel strongly about the opportunity they're going to have ahead of the 2025 NBA Draft.
It probably would've helped mightily if the Heat hadn't made the NBA Playoffs, which would've led to the team having a lottery pick, in addition to the No. 20 pick, but that's a different conversation for another day.
The key for the Heat, especially with a selection so late in the first round, is to either find a prospect that every other team seems to be overlooking or hope that one of the talented prospects takes an unlikely fall to them on draft night. Piggybacking off both of these tactics, we explore three captivating potential draft steals that Heat fans should be rooting for heading into the NBA Draft.
Cedric Coward, G, Washington State
As a late riser up draft boards, there's still a chance that Cedric Coward is going to be on the board when the Heat goes on the clock. As a promising two-way prospect that is considered a late bloomer by many draft pundits, Coward is the exact prototype of a difference-maker that the Heat generally seeks.
Coward is already a proven catch-and-shoot threat, has great athleticism, is willing to pull up his sleeves and play tenacious defense, and has promising upside. Who knows if Coward will ever be a star player at the next level, but the potential is certainly present alongside his raw skill set. If the Heat believes in their developmental system as one that could work wonders, Coward is the perfect prospect they'd want to select at No. 20.
But even if Coward is no longer available at that point, there are other similar prospects that the Heat could have their eye on.
Noa Essengue, F, France
Noa Essengue is one of those similar prospects. As a player who has taken somewhat of a tumble down draft boards over the last few months, it'll be interesting to see where Essengue settles on draft night. I suspect there's going to be a good shot he's still on the board when Miami goes on the clock.
Because of his defensive versatility, I'd imagine Essengue is pretty high on Miami's board. If he can develop any sort of consistent jump shot, Essengue should be able to carve out a spot in a rotation fairly quickly. But those questions on the offensive end of the floor have certainly tanked his stock of late. That tells me there is some real concern for his upside.
Nevertheless, if there's one team that could find a way to get the most out of Essengue, you'd have to believe it's the Heat. Essengue is a young wing who can already contribute on the defensive end of the floor. If he develops offensively, he'll be in the conversation to emerge as one of the bigger late-round steals.
Rasheer Fleming, F, Saint Joseph's
If the Heat is looking for a two-way player with the potential to emerge as a fringe star, Rasheer Fleming remains one of my favorite prospects heading into the 2025 NBA Draft. He's certainly a player that Heat fans should be all over. Much like these first two prospects, Fleming is a proven, versatile defender who will make an immediate impact for Miami.
Fleming is more of a big than a wing, but the way he plays would add an element to the Heat's roster they don't currently have at the moment. A player who can stretch the defense with his 3-point shot, while also protecting the rim if needed, Fleming offers a much different presence than what they already have with Nikola Jovic.
What the Heat would love the most about Fleming is that it gives them another "big" that they could play with Bam Adebayo. The addition of Fleming would give the Heat the opportunity to play "small" with a versatile player who is comfortable playing at the position.
Miami is going to have plenty of intriguing options with the No. 20 pick. The question is, can they make the right selection to help propel the team forward this upcoming season?