As the Miami Heat contemplate how to best utilize the No. 20 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, Rasheer Fleming is rapidly emerging as the perfect player for Erik Spoelstra to turn into his next great development story.
Fleming is one of the most intriguing prospects in his class. He'll be a 21-year-old rookie with limited experience against high-major competition, but he also checks every box as far as upside and a well-rounded skill set are concerned.
Projected to come off the board in the range of Miami's No. 20 selection, Fleming could fall right into Spoelstra's lap as a malleable talent with profound potential.
Fleming stands at 6'8.25" and 232 pounds with a gigantic 7'5.25" wingspan and 9'1" standing reach. He's also one of the most unexpectedly quick players in this class, as evidenced by the fact that he posted a Shuttle Run time of 2.72 seconds—the second-quickest mark of any 2025 prospect.
That alone speaks to Fleming's ability to not only thrive on the defensive end of the floor, but use his quick feet to find space when on offense.
The film confirms Fleming's potential as a 3-and-D forward who can even shift over to the 5-spot in a pinch. That positional versatility, as well as two-way ability, has become the primary source of intrigue and a leading reason Miami should take a chance on his potential.
Fleming may not have much experience against top-flight competition, but he played in a competitive mid-major conference and quickly showed how effective he can already be.
Rasheer Fleming is the perfect Erik Spoelstra prospect
Fleming finished the 2024-25 season averaging 14.7 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.1 offensive boards, 1.3 assists, 1.5 blocks, 1.4 steals, and 1.8 three-point field goals made per game. He did so while maintaining an intriguing level of efficiency, posting a slash line of .531/.390/.743.
Already a proficient three-point shooter and a well-rounded defensive presence, Fleming has all of the tools to thrive in a crucial role.
The 3-and-D big has become one of the most coveted players in the modern NBA. Whether star or otherwise, interior forces who can protect the paint and space the floor are nothing short of invaluable—with the likes of Chet Holmgren, Kristaps Porzingis, Myles Turner, and Victor Wembanyama headlining said archetype.
Beyond the bigger names is a deep cast of role players who have successfully carved out a role in their respective teams' rotation with a combination of length, defense, and shooting.
Fleming has all of the ability to be the next in line, with added value as a perimeter defender. He can switch against the pick and roll, and hold his own when matched up with forwards who thrive with either finesse or power approaches.
It's unclear how much more Fleming can offer, but simply occupying that role alongside Bam Adebayo could transform the Heat's rotation.
With Fleming thriving on both ends of the floor, Adebayo can begin to pick his spots rather than playing a relatively all-encompassing role. That could clear the path for his continued emergence as a scoring threat in 2025-26 and beyond.
It may admittedly take more than just one season for Fleming to tap into his potential, but this is a pick worth making based on fit, upside, and two-way capabilities.