One thing about the Miami Heat is that they don’t lack an ounce of shooting. But luckily in today’s NBA, there can never be too many shooters on a roster.
Something I’ve mentioned as of late is that depth will be huge this upcoming season, for many different reasons. And having Gabe Vincent at the end of the bench is more than ideal.
In the G-League this past year, Vincent averaged 23.7 points, while knocking down 4.4 threes a game.
Shooting is the first thing that sticks out in his game, since he’s not afraid to put shots up. His confidence is clear when on the floor, since he came out firing in the first game he played for the Miami Heat.
He checked in when Miami faced the Los Angeles Clippers back in February, and hit three triples right when he got out there. Although it can be streaky at times, it’s always good to have a shot maker like him on the roster.
He’s also an underrated attacker, which is what he showed in some of the regular season bubble games. Although he had limited minutes and didn’t jump out in the stat sheet, he made some intriguing plays offensively that showed he can get some bench minutes if need be.
He also won the G-League Most Improved Player Award this past season, and he seems eager to continue to improve and round out the rest of his game.
While I can point out some things that Gabe may need to tweak to get minutes in this league, there’s no way of actually knowing until he gets some minutes this next season. One of the reasons he didn’t stick out in most of the games he has played, seems to be due to a certain level of comfort. Some guys like Tyler Herro are able to blend in quick, while others need some time to get ready.
Duncan Robinson took a year to prepare in the G-League, and look where he is now. Vincent is also about the same age as Duncan was when he went through this process.
It’s definitely not insane to think that Vincent can potentially get playing time next season, especially since there’s a good chance Spo goes deeper into his bench. Some of it may be predicated on who Miami drafts, since if they draft a point guard, it’ll be clear they aren’t planning on his development.
Miami always enjoys grabbing un-drafted players who have something to prove, and it’s obvious that Gabe Vincent is determined to prove himself.
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Due to all of the trade talks over the past few weeks involving the Miami Heat, it’s clear that a number one option is what they’re looking to acquire. But I believe that guy will ultimately be the second option.
Bam Adebayo is heading into his fourth season in the NBA, after an intriguing third season which caught the eye of many people around the league.
The difference between his breakout and other players, is that he did that without even reaching half of his potential.
Looking at the outstanding third season from Jayson Tatum, where he averaged 23 points a game, it’s obvious that he’s an evolving star in this league. But when you begin to evaluate him, there’s not many categories that you can say he hasn’t reached his potential.
Bam Adebayo is clearly a top defender in this league, but offensively is where all of the potential is waiting to be reached. That all begins with confidence, because once Bam actually realizes he can be a number one option for this team, that is when he will flourish.
I continue to bring up that closeout game in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics, where he previewed what he’s capable of doing in this league as an offensive threat. And unfortunately, an injury in the Finals didn’t allow him to perform at the level he knows he can play at.
But now we are heading into yet another regular season, where there’s uncertainty if Miami’s roster will look the same, or if a superstar will be headlining it. But even if a James Harden or Giannis Antetokounmpo took their talents to South Beach, I believe Bam will still end up being the primary offensive option.
I’m not so sure it’ll be this upcoming season where he’ll be the number one option, but I do think we see an even bigger leap than what we saw in year three. This ultimately means that he will be the number one option for Miami the following year, and possibly a top 10 talent in the league.
Now, obviously this is a lot of expectations to live up to, but the only reason people say it is because he can absolutely do it.
And when I say he will breakout, it doesn’t just mean improving his points per game, which he definitely could. But what I actually mean is that he will continue to be the most impactful player on the floor, due to his offensive gravity from his passing and ball handling strengths.
A jump shot though would be pretty ideal for him to make an even bigger leap, but I’m not sure it’s as necessary as many think. Of course a consistent mid range jumper changes everything for Bam, but I think increased opportunities of attacking the basket helps him even more.
This Heat team relied heavily on three point shooting all season, which they should, but if the opposing defense has to worry about a weapon like Bam on offense, it gives their shooting a huge boost.
But once again, the specifics don’t truly matter, since it’s obvious that he will be ready to continue to expand his game by opening night.
This is Bam’s year. This is Bam’s team. This is Bam’s franchise.
It’s time to showcase that potential, but truly there is no potential limit to Bam Adebayo in this league.
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Adam Simon spoke with media this afternoon, to talk about the NBA draft on Wednesday.
He started off talking about the challenges of understanding talent since a lot of stuff is virtual, which he said “Something is better than nothing.”
Adam Simon on depth of this draft, "Throughout the draft it is deep, and there are good players. We have the 20th pick and we feel good about the players we have studied."@5ReasonsSports
He also spoke about the depth of this NBA draft, which favors Miami since they have the 20th pick. He said, “We feel good about the players we have studied.”
And without mentioning specific players that they are interested in or worked out, he gave some comments that kind of tell you which way they’re looking to go.
Adam Simon on zoom workouts, "What we did see the most which is different than most years, is that most players improved their bodies…They had a lot more time to work on themselves."@5ReasonsSports
For one, he talked about some guys bodies being improved majorly during the layoff, since they haven’t seen a lot of these players since March. And that comment makes you think about center Vernon Carey Jr, since he’s lost about 30 pounds since the end of last season.
He also made some comments about things that I’ve been talking about for a while now, when referring to Miami’s possible draft selections.
Adam Simon mentions the thought of drafting a player that is more polished than a guy that needs development.
I’ve been saying for a while now that Miami will not draft a player that needs to be developed majorly. There are many guys in this draft that are already polished, both through their games and bodies, which will make this pick a lot easier for Miami.
Adam Simon mentions that shooting doesn't matter if "they can't defend," since he wants a guy to be able to play both sides of the ball.
He also pointed out that they’re focused on guys who are two-way players, since shooting doesn’t matter if they can’t defend. That is why I’ve mentioned the name Ashton Hagans for quite a while now, since Miami is the type of team to make that selection.
And when discussing guys always trying to impress teams by shooting the three ball, he mentioned that he would rather players play to their strengths, especially big men. He mentioned the word “versatility,” quite a lot, but not in the sense of Bam Adebayo, since he said he’s just “unique.”
There are quite a few things to take from this press conference, and it mainly involves Miami making a pick that best fits them, since that is what they will do no matter what on Wednesday night.
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It’s pretty obvious that the Miami Heat never get the respect that they deserve, even if it’s earned.
A fluke postseason run or not as talented as other teams in the East.
That seems to be the consensus, since everybody in the East is getting better by the second according to national media. Apart from the fact that Miami can literally go after any free agent or trade piece they want, they’ve earned their respect with this group.
But according to many, Giannis will be coming back with a purpose, the Boston Celtics are ready to bounce back from that Conference Finals loss, and most of all the Brooklyn Nets are real contenders.
Those three teams do have something in common though, which is not proving a thing.
For starters, Giannis Antetokounmpo is a spectacular player, but it’s obvious that his lack of supporting cast will hold him back in the playoffs. And by the way, Miami beat them in five games.
The Boston Celtics have a ton of talent, and they’re looking to make some moves to improve that as well. But not only did Miami outplay Boston, more importantly they out-coached them. And when they thought their third year emerging star Jayson Tatum would step up to send his team to the NBA finals, Bam Adebayo did that instead.
And now to the Brooklyn Nets. Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving leading the way seems to entice people heavily, which is why many have them as the favorite to come out of the East.
Two guys coming off of injury. Two guys who’ve never played together. Two guys who may not fit.
They have an immense amount of talent, but how does a team that hasn’t stepped on the floor together get more credibility than the team that was in the NBA Finals?
Once again, it’s expected when you play for the Miami Heat, and they like it that way. Being doubted, even after making it to the Finals, is what will drive them even more.
You can put your money on talent, but I’d put my money on the organizational advantage, coaching advantage, and work ethic advantage any day of the week.
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Precious definitely is a very intriguing prospect for Miami, but I’m not so sure he will still be on the board by pick 20.
And although I think he will be a very solid NBA player, I just don’t believe he’s the best fit for the Heat. A power forward should not be the route Miami will lean towards, since a true center will be more enticing. But obviously they know he’s talented since they worked him out, so we will see what happens.
Theo Maledon, Tyrese Maxey, and Devin Vassell did not work out with the Miami Heat. Vassell should be a lottery pick, so that makes sense, but it was interesting to hear that Theo or Tyrese didn’t. Tyrese only worked out with one NBA team thus far, which was the New Orleans Pelicans. And I’ve discussed that Theo won’t be a player Miami would go after since he’s more of a project than an immediate fit.
Jalen Smith and Patrick Williams are two guys that have been discussed as possibilities as well, but neither would disclose the teams that they worked out for.
“A lot of people can make a standstill three but not a lot of people can move off a three.”
Jalen Smith talked about his intriguing shooting abilities, which includes more than just the standstill jump shot.
Patrick Williams talks about his main goal in the NBA, "I'm not coming in looking for any accolades or winning rookie of the year. I just want to contribute."
And Miami Heat quote of the day goes to Patrick Williams@5ReasonsSports
Patrick Williams gave a very Miami Heat type quote, when he mentioned he wants to help a team more than achieving personal accolades. He also said that his biggest strength is his versatility, and mentioned “I think you saw it a lot with the Miami Heat in the finals since they played with all guards.”
All of these guys will be considered if they’re still on the board at 20, even if they didn’t workout with Miami. And we will see which route Miami ultimately elects to go.
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I do believe there’s a good chance that he will be selected earlier, since he is one of the best shooters in this draft. He continually mentioned his best attributes are shooting the three ball and his all around defensive abilities.
A 3 and D guard will definitely be on Miami’s radar, especially one with his type of talent.
Another guy that talked with media and could possibly fall to Miami is Saddiq Bey. I wrote about him back in June as a target for Miami, since I don’t believe there’s a better fit for their culture. He’s gritty, tough, and can also give Miami that 3 and D role.
Saddiq Bey on role he wants to play for the team that drafts him, "It's whatever role they see in me."
He mentioned that he has no preference for a specific role, since he will do whatever a team wants him to do. And that pretty much sums up the Miami Heat’s situation exactly, since there are spots they could possibly plug him into.
Saddiq Bey says his main priority when getting drafted is "helping the team win."
And of course he had to give a very Miami Heat-esque answer when asked about his main priority upon arrival, which he responded “helping the team win.”
The last guy that spoke with media that Miami has a shot at was RJ Hampton.
In my opinion, a couple things stood out from his interview. For one, he is one of the most confident players in this draft. I believe his stock took a bit of a hit since he played overseas, which led to his scoring numbers taking a dip, but that shouldn’t be the case.
He mentioned the fact that he was a top 5 player coming out of high school, and the international route polished up his all around game. He was 19 years old playing against pros and played pretty well. As he said, some people are more worried about the “oohs and ahs,” but he just plays to get better.
RJ Hampton says he thinks going overseas is the better route if you're willing to "Get less of the hype and get more of the work."
And the Miami Heat type answer of the day goes to RJ Hampton.
Then he gave the Miami Heat quote of the day, saying when going overseas, you must be willing to “Get less of the hype and more of the work.”
The Miami Heat were not one of the teams that he worked out with though, but anything can happen in this very unique NBA draft.
It’s clear Miami has many options with this 20th pick, and I believe all three of these guys will be considered if available.
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Another thing with these past draft selections is that they all had a certain role in college, including Tyler Herro, Bam Adebayo, and even Justice Winslow. Miami never seems to lean towards a player that is a bit of a freelancer, which there are a lot of in that 20 range.
That is why players on well known schools may get the edge from Miami’s perspective, since it’s less of a risk in their eyes.
And when discussing players with less of a risk, I also believe they may take a player with a lower ceiling if need be. There are many guys in this draft who are all offense and no defense, which I can tell you won’t be the way Miami goes. There are also a few that are all defense and no offense, which I think is a much more viable option.
Miami has a bunch of guys who can score the ball, but they don’t have somebody who can lock up opposing guards. This is another example of getting somebody who can try and make an immediate impact. That doesn’t mean he will have significant playing time, but that type of player can definitely get situational minutes.
And with a big man, it doesn’t always have to be about finding a fit for Bam, since he will be playing behind Bam, not next to him. Of course the goal is to eventually develop him into a starting position next to Bam, but that should not be the worry right now, since they are on the contending level.
Another thing is that Miami does not base their pick based off other people’s draft boards. There’s clearly a chance that they could possibly trade down, but they might just take a guy that is projected to go in the second round with the 20th pick. It’s all about being comfortable with the Miami Heat, and if they believe in somebody, they will go with that guy.
Obviously there is still uncertainty if Miami will keep the pick, but there definitely are some guys that fit their mold. Miami picks their players based off motor, since that will usually tell you if they’re a Miami Heat fit.
But whoever they do end up selecting, Heat fans should have zero doubt, since that mistake has already been made before.
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The Heat hold the No. 20 pick in the draft. They don’t own their second-rounder this year thanks to the deal that landed Miami Zoran Dragic on back in 2015.
The Heat don’t have a long history with mid-first round picks, considering they’ve either been contending or rebuilding for much of their 32-year existence. They’ve made just five selections between picks 15 and 25, despite having 12 selections in that range over the years.
The NBA draft itself remains a crapshoot. Lottery talents flop while second round picks become revelations. While there haven’t been a ton of mid-first round picks in franchise history, the Heat’s history in the draft is spotty, especially in this range.
*For the purposes of this discussion, a mid-first round pick will (admittedly arbitrarily) be those between No. 15 (the first non-lottery selection) and No. 25.
Heat Draft History: Mid-Round Selections
Kevin Edwards
Far and away the best pick for the Heat in the mid-first round remains Kevin Edwards. The Heat landed the No. 20 overall selection in an expansion draft deal with Dallas. Miami agreed not to select Bill Wennington, Uwe Blab or Steve Alford from the Mavericks in exchange for their 1988 first-round pick.
That’s right. They landed Kevin Edwards for not picking Uwe Blab.
(Side Note: Miami landed second-round picks in other expansion draft deals, too, including agreeing not to pick Kareem Abdul-Jabbar from the Lakers or Dennis Johnson from the Celtics.)
Edwards led the expansion Heat as a rookie with a 13.8 scoring average and with 139 steals. A combo guard, Edwards continued as a regular starter through 1990. In 1991, he shifted to a sixth-man role. All told, Edwards played the first five seasons of his 11-year career with the Heat and seemingly started the do-it-all-undersized-two-guard archetype for the franchise. He finished his Heat career averaging 12.2 points, 3.2 assists and 1.6 steals-per-game in 357 appearances.
Tim James
The Heat wouldn’t hold another mid-first in the draft until 1999. That year, they used the No. 25 pick to take Tim James out of the University of Miami. James became the first local product to make his way to the Heat. He played high school ball at Miami Northwestern before joining UM. With the Hurricanes, James ended his career ranked fourth in scoring (1,713 points), fifth in rebounding (856) and second in blocks (224).
But his time with the Heat would be short lived. Heat head coach Pat Riley had James bulk up and that largely robbed the 6-7 wingman of his elite athleticism. He played just four games with Miami, scoring a total of 11 points. James was then part of the blockbuster deal with Charlotte that saw the Heat land Anthony Mason and Eddie Jones in 2000.
James would play in the NBA for two more seasons before enlisting the US Army for four years. During his tours in Iraq, James reportedly never told the other soldiers about his NBA career. After that, he bounced around the world playing pro ball. The Heat honored James in 2011 as part of their Home Strong program.
Interestingly, James wore the No. 40 while with the Heat, a number now worn by another South Florida high school basketball legend, Udonis Haslem.
Dorell Wright and Daequan Cook
Miami’s next mid-first round selection came in 2004. That year, the Heat took Dorell Wright out of Leuzinger High School in Lawndale, CA. This marks the only time in franchise history the team selected a high school player.
Wright appeared in three games as a rookie in 2004-05, scoring a total of seven points. Wright would play parts of six seasons with the Heat and was the youngest player on the team’s first NBA championship. He wouldn’t break into the rotation until his third season, when he played 66 games, scoring six points with 4.1 rebounds- and 1.4 assists-per-game.
Injuries and inconsistent opportunity kept Wright from fully developing with the Heat. Ultimately, Wright put up 6.3 points and 3.0 rebounds-per-game on 46 percent shooting in 211 games with Miami. When he left for Golden State in free agency in 2010, Wright vaulted to another level. He averaged a career-high 16.4 points-per-game that season, starting all 82 games.
In 2007, the Heat entered the draft with the No. 20 pick and took Jason Smith, a stretch big out of Colorado State. They flipped Smith to Philadelphia for the No. 21 selection, Daequan Cook, cash and a 2009 second rounder.
(That second round pick, incidentally, was later dealt to Minnesota in 2008 for none other than the goat, Mario Chalmers.)
Cook played the first three seasons of his six-year NBA career in Miami. His most notable moment was becoming the third Heat player to win the Three-Point Contest at All-Star Weekend. He proved to be a solid role player for a time, averaging 8.8 points as a rookie and 9.1 points in his second season. He was limited to just 45 games his third year before being dealt to Oklahoma City that offseason.
Wheeling and Dealing Mid-First Round Draft Picks
The Heat have always been willing to deal draft picks, particularly their mid-first round picks. Even in this draft, Miami may deal the pick, according to Five Reason’s Ethan Skolnick.
In 1990, the Miami Heat held the 3rd overall selection in the draft after an 18-64 season. The team traded the No. 3 (which became Chris Jackson, later Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf) to Denver for the No. 9 and No. 15 selections. Miami turned those picks into Willie Burton and Dave Jamerson.
Jamerson wasn’t around long, though. He and the No. 30 overall pick (a second rounder then), Carl Herrera, were sent to the Houston Rockets for the No. 12 pick, Alec Kessler.
Kessler became the first player in Heat history to wear the No. 33, now retired for Alonzo Mourning. He played all four seasons of his career with Miami, averaging 5.2 points- and 3.2 rebounds-per-game in 210 appearances.
In 1996, the Heat’s first round pick, No. 16, went to Charlotte as part of the Mourning/Glen Rice trade. The Hornets used the pick to take Tony Delk out of Kentucky. Later in that draft, Miami made an ill-fated deal with Utah for the rights to the No. 25 selection, Martin Müürsepp.
The 6-9 power forward remains the only Estonian player to ever make an NBA appearance. The Heat sent a future first for Müürsepp, who played a grand total of 10 games and scored 17 points for Miami. The Heat then shipped Müürsepp to Dallas with Sasha Danilović and Kurt Thomas for Jamal Mashburn at the trade deadline that season.
Mid-First Round Draft Picks the Heat Dealt Away
Miami’s 1998 first rounder (No. 22) went to the Los Angeles Clippers with Isaac Austin and Charles Smith for Brent Barry. The Clippers would draft Brian Skinner with that pick, ahead of Ty Lue, Nazr Mohammed, Al Harrington, Rashard Lewis and Rafer Alston, among others.
In 2000, the pick Miami sent to Utah for Müürsepp turned into DeShawn Stevenson for the Jazz.
The Heat’s No. 20 overall selection in 2001 went to Cleveland as part of a complicated three-team trade that saw Shawn Kemp flip to Portland and Brian Grant come to Miami. The Cavs selected Brendan Haywood ahead of the likes of Gerald Wallace, Samuel Dalembert, Jamaal Tinsely, Tony Parker and Gilbert Arenas.
In 2009, the Heat’s No. 18 pick in the first round went to Minnesota as part of the Ricky Davis/Antoine Walker trade. It was the second time the Heat had acquired Davis via trade. The No. 18 pick that year became Ty Lawson.
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2010 saw the Heat package Daequan Cook and the No. 18 overall selection for Oklahoma City’s second rounder. This move cleared out addition cap space to help make the Big-3 Era possible. The second-round pick Miami acquired became Dexter Pittman. The No. 18 pick that year was Kentucky’s Eric Bledsoe.
In 2016, the Heat lost their No. 24 overall pick to Cleveland, thanks to the sign-and-trade deal for LeBron James. The Cavs selected Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot ahead of Pascal Siakam and Dejounte Murray.
Finally, in 2018, Miami saw their No. 16 overall pick head to Phoenix as part of the Goran Dragic deal. The Suns would select Zhaire Smith. The Heat also stands to lose their 2021 first round draft pick in this deal.
One of the main reasons the Miami Heat thrived in the bubble this past season is because they had major depth advantages. That was important for many reasons, but the most notable was the fact that teams must be ready for a possible Covid test to come back positive.
Obviously that is something we expect the NBA to avoid, just like they did with the bubble, but ultimately it’ll be much harder since there will be a lot of traveling and a bit more contact.
This will have to be something that the league decides to live with and continue to proceed. If that is the case, team’s depth may be one of the most essential attributes for this upcoming season, and I believe that can work in Miami’s favor.
They may not have the same depth that they had last year, since guys like Derrick Jones Jr and Meyers Leonard could possibly walk, but replacements will have to be made.
That doesn’t only refer to free agency, but also within the organization. Guys like KZ Okpala, Kyle Alexander, and Gabe Vincent will be ready for an opportunity if need be.
And it seems to be even more important to retain a guy like Soloman Hill, since he should be cheap and fits that role off the bench that Miami likes.
There have been discussions about Kelly Olynyk and Andre Iguodala possibly getting put in a deal to make the team better and save some money, but maybe they think twice about it. Andre and Kelly are two quality bench guys, that are more than capable of stepping up into the starting lineup if some unfortunate situations were to occur.
This is another reason the 20th pick in the NBA draft could give them some value. I believe they will draft a guy that is more polished, so he can possibly be utilized immediately.
Another thing that may not want to get talked about, since Miami did not have a true off-season like other teams, are possible injuries. Certain guys may get rushed and it could lead to something unfortunate, which is why Miami will take their time with Goran Dragic if he’s resigned.
Obviously one thing you don’t question with Miami is their structure, coaching, and organization, which is why I believe they will be ready to adjust no matter what happens.
But it is clear that depth could play a huge role this season, and Miami will definitely be prepared.
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The Miami Heat have so many options heading into that day, but time is on their side.
The big question that has been looming around that front office is the one that Pat Riley brought up in his presser, “Do you just run it back without doing anything?”
Obviously that is a possible option, since they just made it to the NBA Finals, but I don’t believe it’s their first option. Guys like Goran Dragic and Jae Crowder will most likely be taken care of, but a “whale” to improve this team will always be first on their list.
The reason they have unlimited time is because they’re going to be waiting to see what shows up to their doorstep, instead of the other way around. Miami is clearly a place that everybody in the league wants to be and play for, which is why they will be looking out for guys pushing themselves out of cities via trades.
Pat Riley and the crew will be playing a patient game this off-season to find the best possible option for both this season and 2021 free agency.
And with the NBA draft set to happen in a little over a week, they will clearly use that 20th pick to their advantage as well.
It’s truly looking up for Miami heading into this next season, mostly since even if all other trades and signings fall through, they have a pretty intriguing core to fall back on.
And by the way, with Miami’s front office, not many things will fall through.
