If, for one reason or another, the Miami Heat aren't able to make the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade happen, there's one primary target that could make more and more sense for the team at No. 13 in the 2026 NBA Draft. Labaron Philon Jr.
In many ways, there's reason to believe that adding Philon Jr. in the NBA Draft would help solve one of the Heat's biggest issues. Philon Jr. would give Miami some much-needed playmaking ability, with the promise of developing into a primary lead guard in the future.
Even with Kasparas Jakucionis already on board, Philon Jr. gives the Heat another playmaking option on the table, one who has also proven to be a capable scorer during his two seasons at Alabama. Jakucionis and Philon Jr. would give the Heat a promising backcourt of the future.
Labaron Philon Jr. could be considered a bit of a reach for the Heat
Based on a few recent mocks, there's a sense that if the Heat were to take Philon Jr. at 13, it would be considered a bit of a reach. However, if the Heat want to aggressively address their biggest need, playmaking, they're going to need to be intentional with this selection.
So even if taking a flier on Philon Jr. might be considered a bit of a reach, the Heat should be willing to live with that reality. Especially considering how much promise Philon Jr. has as a prospect/.
At 6-foot-4, Philon Jr. is coming off a season in which he averaged 22 points, five rebounds, and four assists on 50 percent shooting from the field and 40 percent shooting from 3-point range.
In the event that the Heat decides it's time to part ways with Tyler Herro, which may be the case this offseason, whether he's in a deal for Giannis or not, adding a high-ceiling player like Philon Jr. could be a natural path forward for the Heat.
As one of the league's premier developmental systems, Philon Jr. could absolutely thrive in Miami. If he can be as effective in the pick-and-roll in the pros, Bam Adebayo and Kel'el Ware would also greatly benefit from an added playmaker in the backcourt.
Again, the primary focus of the Heat will likely continue to be Giannis. But if they can't figure out a way to make it happen by draft night, they're going to have to make a decision in their best interests. And Philon Jr. could be the perfect draft pick to help solve some of their backcourt issues.
Add us as a preferred source on Google