Miami Heat rumors: NBA insider makes surprising Heat pick in latest mock draft

Some of the latest Miami Heat rumors…

The Heat could be eyeing a trade into the top five of the draft - Hoopswire.com

Sam Amico reports that the Heat and Los Angeles could be looking to trade up for a top-five pick in this month’s NBA draft. Building off of The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor’s report that multiple teams from the 13-19 range are attempting to move up in the draft, Amico adds, “One league source told Hoops Wire last week that he envisions the Lakers and Heat making a strong play for a top-five pick.” Zaccharie Risacher and Alex Sarr are expected to be selected with the top two picks, and players expected to be considered in the top five include Donovan Clingan, Reed Sheppard, Stephon Castle and Matas Buzelis.

NBA insider makes surprising Miami Heat pick in latest mock draft - TheRinger.com

O’Connor in his mock draft made a surprising pick for the Heat at no. 15: Marquette point guard Tyler Kolek. He writes of the selection: 

“Kolek’s stock appears to be on the rise as the draft approaches, with teams viewing him as a versatile guard who can provide immediate knockdown shooting and reliable playmaking. I’ve heard him connected as high as here, though perhaps if a lottery team trades down then Kolek could be a target for them too. If Miami lands him, then he would fill a clear position of need and could develop nice two-man chemistry with Bam Adebayo.”

Could the Heat really take Kolek, a 23-year-old, smaller point guard, with the 15th pick in the draft? Especially if other prospects like Jared McCain, Kel’el Ware and Ja’Kobe Walter are on the board? I have my doubts, but the Heat are known to march to the beat of their own drum on draft night. As O’Connor notes, Kolek is getting some mid-round buzz but he could be picked here if the Heat move up.  Just spit-balling, but maybe a team like Memphis (9) trades down to land a quality backup while Miami moves up for a specific target.

First-round centers working out for the Heat - Twitter/X.com

A pair of potential first-round centers worked out for the Heat recently. UCLA’s Adem Bona and Baylor’s Yves Missi were photographed in “Miami Heat Basketball” gear at Kaseya Center during a pre-draft workout. Bona is considered one of the hardest-working players in the draft and is rising up draft boards. At 6-foot-8 with a 7-foot-4 wingspan, Bona is a dialed-in defender and strong rebounder. Missi is more raw, but his talent is undeniable. At 6-foot-11 with a 7-foot-6 wingspan, he projects as a pick-and-roll lob threat and switchable defender, but he started playing basketball late in life and needs more coaching polishing. Both could be selected as eventual backups behind Bam Adebayo.