Highlights of Heat’s draft night & Riley’s presser

Alphonse Sidney (@Alf954) and I were at American Airlines Arena for the Miami Heat’s 2019 draft, and stuck around until past 1 a.m. to tape a couple of podcasts and hear from first-round pick Tyler Herro (by conference call) and Heat president Pat Riley.

Here are some of the highlights, tweet by tweet:

The Miami Heat take Tyler Herro.

Kentucky.

Naturally.

— Five Reasons Sports Network (@5ReasonsSports) June 21, 2019

NBA Draft Net on Tyler Herro:

"Projects to be a serviceable bench player to spot starter early in his career with the ability to develop into a reliable scorer at the next level … May never be good enough defensively to fill the 3 and D role."

— Five Reasons Sports Network (@5ReasonsSports) June 21, 2019

Heat draft Tyler Herro, fans not thrilled:https://t.co/ytuO4JcuVk

— Five Reasons Sports Network (@5ReasonsSports) June 21, 2019

If Josh Richardson's best position is the 2 — it is — I'm curious how they project Tyler Herro, especially with Dion Waiters still on the roster.

— Five Reasons Sports Network (@5ReasonsSports) June 21, 2019

KZ Ozpala headed to the Heat.

Miami trades 3 second rounders.

Wing with length. Which they can use.

— Five Reasons Sports Network (@5ReasonsSports) June 21, 2019

Bol Bol walking through the hall wearing a Heat hat is a video we'll remember if he becomes an All-Star

— Five Reasons Sports Network (@5ReasonsSports) June 21, 2019

Bol Bol Heat legend
6/20/2019 11:49pm – 6/20/3019 11:50pm

You will be missed sweet prince

— Mari0🌌 (@LeFL0P) June 21, 2019

The Heat's first round pick. https://t.co/hHX3dRQDCo

— Five Reasons Sports Network (@5ReasonsSports) June 21, 2019

The Heat traded the draft rights to Bol Bol to the Nuggets for a future second round pick and cash.

— Five Reasons Sports Network (@5ReasonsSports) June 21, 2019

Pat Riley: "We are really excited about Tyler. A lot of you have written, and we know, that we do need shooting."

Saw Herro in 3 or 4 tournament games.

"The fact that he's a sticker and a great FT shooter is just part of his game. We do feel there's an upside to him."

— Five Reasons Sports Network (@5ReasonsSports) June 21, 2019

Pat Riley on Tyler Herro: "We do feel he fills a void. And we think he has an opportunity to play right away. I have never met a more enthusiastic guy when he was here for his workout."

— Five Reasons Sports Network (@5ReasonsSports) June 21, 2019

Pat Riley: "It's not a coincidence anymore that we're drafting all Kentucky players. We're getting rid of the Duke concept."

— Five Reasons Sports Network (@5ReasonsSports) June 21, 2019

Pat Riley: "This is a perfect pick for us."

— Five Reasons Sports Network (@5ReasonsSports) June 21, 2019

Pat Riley makes it clear he can't talk about the Heat's second round pick, because of league rules.

And it's a stupid league rule.

They can't talk about him until July 6th.

Vegas summer league starts July 5th.

The NBA needs to fix this.

— Five Reasons Sports Network (@5ReasonsSports) June 21, 2019

Pat Riley on Dion Waiters:

"You guys r ruthless, when it comes to ppl, when it comes 2 contracts"

"He knows what he has to do. He's been told by Erik & me"

"1 of worst ankle surgeries I've ever been around"

"If he wasn't in shape, he wouldn't have been in that locker room."

— Ethan J. Skolnick (@EthanJSkolnick) June 21, 2019

Riley on Dion Waiters and James Johnson:

"Both of them, we need more from them. We need them to be in the best shape in training camp and with the best health."

— Ethan J. Skolnick (@EthanJSkolnick) June 21, 2019

Pat Riley: "Right now, I believe Goran Dragic is our starting point guard. I know you all have Justise Winslow slotted in there." @5ReasonsSports

— Ethan J. Skolnick (@EthanJSkolnick) June 21, 2019

Good morning.

After 25 years, some fans haven’t realized that Pat Riley sometimes says things to build value of his players for other teams or pressure his own players. Don’t take him so literally.

— Five Reasons Sports Network (@5ReasonsSports) June 21, 2019

More to come….