The retooling of the Miami Heat begins Wednesday night at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center with the NBA Draft and the 15thpick.
The Heat, a 2023 NBA finalist, had a devastatingly disappointing end to their last season. Miami advanced from the play-in tournament to the playoffs but broke down famously entering the first-round series vs. eventual champion Boston.
Terry Rozier, their mid-season point guard acquisition, never came back from a neck injury. Jimmy Butler was KO’d with a knee injury during the play-in round and never made it to the Boston series. And sharpshooter Duncan Robinson never got his back right. It wound up a 4-1 crushing by the Celtics.
Now it is on president Pat Riley to make things right again. The Heat will cross their fingers Rozier isn’t as injury-prone as he showed and then the franchise faces a summer decision on Butler, who is due a massive contract extension.
With Riley’s’ salty remarks about Butler, there’s plenty of buzz he could get dealt, but probably not Wednesday since Miami can’t legally move its 15thpick because it doesn’t have a 2025 first-rounder. (Miami could draft a player at 15 for another team and make the trade in July).
Though Miami’s front office claims it will take the best player available, Seth Greenberg, ESPN’s college-basketball guru who will work the draft for ESPN Radio, believes Miami will take a center to give star Bam Adebayo more flexibility and boost its depth up front with Kevin Love aging. Meanwhile, there were numerous reports Wednesday that Adebayo is going to get a contract extension when the NBA's offseason moratorium on such moves is lifted next month.
More:Udonis Haslem juggling several roles in 'retirement' after 20 years with Miami Heat | D'Angelo
Also, Greenberg can see the Heat going with a shooting guard if they already know Butler is a goner.
The Heat certainly hit a home run last draft when it selected UCLA senior forward Jaimie Jacquez Jr. who wound up on the All-Rookie First Team.
“It depends on what they decide to do with Butler,’’ Greenberg told The Palm Beach Post. “It sounds like Jimmy’s act is running thin with Pat. When Pat came out and said the stuff that “If he’s not playing, he should keep his mouth shut’’ and there was no response from Jimmy … It was like pure ignore about what Pat said.’’
Butler had boasted the Heat would’ve sent the Knicks home had Miami faced them in the playoffs.Ironically, the Knicks reportedly have an eye on the potential Butler Sweepstakes.
Ja'Kobe Walter, Yves Missi, Zach Edey all could be on the board
At 15, Greenberg likes Baylor shooting guard Ja’Kobe Walter but likes even better his Baylor teammate, 6-foot-11 center Yves Missi. Purdue’s star center, 7-4 Zach Edey also could be on the board at 15.
“But like Missi better than Edey,’’ Greenberg said. “I know they want to get Bam - and Bam wants to - get out of the post position. I like the Baylor kid a little better long term. He runs, blocks shots , can shoot from the elbow, though he’s raw offensively. He reminds me of Bam coming out at such a young age.He can play the dunker’s spot and block shots. He’s intriguing for an upside.’’
More:Stanley Cup Final: Florida Panthers capture biggest prey of all with first NHL championship
Missi, of Cameroon, is a 20-year-old freshman. Edey was national player of the year but has an old-school game, lacking the quickness that is now all the rage for pivots. “(Edey) can be there at 15,’’ Greenberg said. “He’s the biggest question mark in the draft.”
One of Greenberg’s favorites in that range is Providence 6-3 junior combo guard, Devin Carter, the son of former Heat point guard Anthony Carter who played two seasons at Doral Academy. But Carter may not last to 15.
“I’m a big Devin Carter fan,’’ Greenberg said. “He can really guard the basketball, doesn’t shoot as well as you’d like to shoot it, but defends.He can get downhill, play with contact. You know what you’re getting and he’s an older guy, which is a fit there. They want to win now. They’re not playing the futures market.’’
The Heat should make their pick in the 9:20 to 9:30 p.m. mark. For the first time, the second round will be staged on a separate day – Thursday – and the Heat select 43rd.
NBA DraftWednesday (1st round), 8 p.m. ABC/ESPNThursday (2nd round), 4 p.m. ESPNFirst pick: Atlanta Hawks
