5 Miami Heat players immediately impacted by the team's draft picks

The Miami Heat’s picks are in.

With the 15th overall pick, the team selected 7-foot-1 (with a 7-foot-4.5 wingspan) big man Kel’el Ware.

The following night, they ended up trading their 43rd pick for the 44th pick and cash considerations for the second round with the Atlanta Hawks. Miami used that pick to draft 6-foot-5 guard Pelle Larsson.

The work wasn’t done after that, as undrafted rookies Keshad Johnson and Zyon Pullin were brought aboard on two-way contracts. All in all, it was a very successful draft for the Heat’s front office. They made sure to get more athletic and bring in some size and length; something that has been a problem in recent years. 

With his NBA comparison through media being the likes of Myles Turner, Ware doesn’t just bring size, but "functional size." He can play next to Bam Adebayo or behind him as a versatile two-way big with floor-stretching and shot-blocking abilities.

In Ware's sophomore college season at Indiana, he averaged 15.9 points, 9.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.9 blocks on 59% shooting and 43% from 3-point range.

Larsson averaged 12.8 points on 42.6% from 3-point range as a college senior last season for Arizona. Bleacher Report labeled the pick as a “well-rounded guard” as a shooter who “can fit into any type of system”.

As exciting as these picks are for Heat Nation, it could potentially leave current players as odd men out of the team’s rotation. Let’s go over five players on Miami’s roster that can be impacted by these two draft selections.

Orlando Robinson

Last summer, the Heat converted Orlando Robinson’s two-way contract to a standard contract. Outside of injuries to Bam Adebayo, who didn’t miss much time last season, Robinson didn’t see much playing time. That draft selection of Ware is only going to make that harder.

Robinson has some raw untapped potential as a 6-foot-10 big man with length. However, he could be viewed as the odd man out in the team’s depth chart. He averaged just 2.8 points and 2.3 rebounds in 36 games during the 2023-2024 campaign. 

He arguably had more opportunities the season prior, when Adebayo was sidelined with surgery for an extended time. With him healthy and Ware now in the mix, it leaves less chances for Robinson to step in.

Robinson's contract becomes guaranteed on July 15. The Heat could potentially waive him to open up another roster spot.