French point guard is Heat's perfect high-upside gamble in NBA draft

A scan of the mock drafts suggests that the Miami Heat are believed to be looking for a guard with the No. 20 pick in June's NBA Draft.

They hit on Kel'el Ware in last year's draft, and there is a clear need to upgrade at the guard spot on this roster.

We previously chronicled the value Florida's Walter Clayton Jr., but ESPN's draft experts think the Heat should look overseas rather than in their own state.

Would the Miami Heat draft Nolan Traore?

In their latest mock draft, ESPN has the Heat taking French guard Nolan Traore.

ESPN envisions Miami acquiring a true point guard to manage the ball, allowing Tyler Herro to embrace his role as a true shooting guard. This idea has merit, and Traore possesses traits that should translate well to the NBA.

Traore is 6-foot-5 and isn't afraid to get downhill and attack the rim. He's considered a great pick-and-roll ballhandler who loves to find space. When he does draw defenders, he isn't afraid to pass out of a crowd.

Theoretically, having Traore and Bam Adebayo run a pick-and-roll together with Herro spacing the floor is the foundation for an effective offense.

One big red flag for Traore

One reason Traore has seen his draft stock fall from a potential lottery pick is due to his jump shot. This past season, he shot just 30.4% from 3, and it doesn't seem to matter if it's off the dribble or a catch-and-shoot.

Stephon Castle managed to put up almost 15 points a game for San Antonio in his rookie campaign, shooting just 28% from 3, so it is possible to still be productive without a reliable outside jumper. (Castle also gets to play with Victor Wembanyama, which frees up space down low.)

Adebayo doesn't space the floor the same way as Wemby, so, if the vision for Traore is to have a two-man game with Adebayo, his shooting would have to improve. Otherwise, defenses are just going to go under every screen because they don't fear getting burned from deep by either player.

Final Verdict

If Traore is available at No. 20, should the Heat take him?

Based on most mock drafts out there, 20th is the lowest any of the main sites have him going, so there would be value in grabbing him at that spot.

He has a bunch of traits that will translate well in the NBA. It's just a matter of whether his shooting can elevate enough to force defenses to respect it.

If Traore does improve his shooting, he could be the steal of the draft.

If he does not, there is absolutely bust potential.