If the Miami Heat can't find a path to Giannis Antetokounmpo and end up making a selection with the No. 13 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, Labaron Philon Jr. could very well be the plan.
According to Jake Fischer, is a player that Miami likes if they have to make a pick at No. 13.
Ideally, the Heat would much rather not be making a pick when they go on the clock at next week's NBA Draft. Because that would mean they struck a deal for Giannis. However, in theory, Philon Jr. is a player who would make sense either way.
The Heat will likely target a guard in the NBA Draft
In theory, the Heat will need to add a guard in the NBA Draft if they move forward with rebuilding this roster with the No. 13 pick. Assuming that there's no Giannis deal, the Heat could still very well lose Tyler Herro and Norman Powell this offseason.
From all indications, Herro's time in Miami appears to be up. The belief is that he'll either be part of a bigger Giannis package or he'll headline his own trade at some point this offseason.
If the Heat can't get Giannis, it's hard to imagine Powell coming back to Miami. Assuming he'd want a long-term deal, the Heat is going to want to keep its flexibility if it can't land a star player this summer. It's hard to envision how that can work with bringing Powell back.
So there's a very good chance that the Heat is going to need to bring in a guard with the playmaking and offensive ability like Philon Jr.
The Heat could still revisit Giannis talks if no deal is struck by the NBA Draft
Even though the No. 13 pick won't carry the same value as it has after the NBA Draft, there's still a way the Heat could revisit Giannis trade talks with Philon Jr. being at the center of those discussions.
It certainly doesn't hurt that, in this same report, it mentions how the Bucks have been linked to Philon Jr. as well. So, maybe, if the Heat and Bucks can't find a middle ground on Giannis between now and the NBA Draft, and he still isn't traded, it could leave the door slightly open to getting a deal done in the future.
Either way, at this point, it'd be safe to assume that Philon Jr. is a prospect to keep a close eye on at No. 13 for the Heat, if they end up keeping the pick.
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