The Miami Heat just wrapped up an impressive season in which they outperformed most expectations. They led the Eastern Conference with a record of 53-29 and lost to the Boston Celtics in the Conference Finals. The heroic playoff effort by Jimmy Butler made it clear this Heat team is still ready to compete. The focus on the offseason should certainly be a retool rather than a full rebuild.
While there are rumors of some potential bigger moves on the trade block and in free agency, the Heat must capitalize on all opportunities to upgrade. One of the areas they have a chance to do this is in the NBA Draft. The Heat currently hold the 27th overall pick in which they will search for another long-term member of the organization.
3 best options for Heat with No. 27 pick in 2022 NBA Draft
Caleb Houston- SF Michigan
Standing 6'8″ and fairly well-built for his age, Caleb Houston projects as a perfect mold for an NBA Wing. The 19-year-old is a streaky shooter but can fill up the stat sheet when he gets hot. He is comfortable shooting coming off screens or utilizing off-ball movement. The Michigan product is a good athlete and a solid defender. He also is a fairly high IQ player and is capable as a playmaker and comfortable with the ball in his hands.
In his lone season at Michigan, Houston averaged 10.1 points, 4 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game. He attempted 5.0 three-pointers per game and connected at a 35.5% rate. The former top-10 high school prospect drew criticism for his lack of assertiveness. He lacks an elite first step off the dribble and is oftentimes too content staying off the ball. While he may not hold the ceiling of some of the other prospects in this range, Caleb Houston will serve as an effective plug-and-play rookie addition for the Heat. He fits the model for what you hope for in a complimentary wing player and would do well in the Heat's system.
Bryce McGowens- SG Nebraska
A lengthy 6'6″ prospect who can flat-out score the basketball. Bryce McGownens averaged 16.8 points per game along with 5.2 rebounds, and 1.4 assists during his time at Nebraska. He has impressive explosiveness and will develop into a microwave scorer at the NBA level. McGowens is a much riskier pick for the Heat but possesses an impressive upside for this range of selections. He loves the ball in his hand and is not afraid of any matchup.
The efficiency concerns are the biggest red flags with Bryce McGowens. The 19-year-old shot just 27.4% on three-pointers and 40.3% from the field this season. He also needs to add weight to his frame as he can be thrown off by more physical defenders. The Nebraska product attacks the rim at a high rate (6.3 FTA per game) but can become too tunnel-visioned with the ball in his hand. His NBA role will likely be as an off-the-bench scorer but there is a ton of room to grow in his game.
Ousmane Dieng- SF New Zealand Breakers
A French point forward who is comfortable with the ball in his hands. Ousmane Dieng stands 6'9″ with a 7′ foot wingspan. He is a switchable defender with impressive movement for his size. Dieng is a terrific athlete who is quick with the ball in his hands and a terror in transition. The Frenchman moves well defensively as well. He has great lateral speed and overall agility to stick with quicker guards.
While his potential is sky-high, there is a ton of work for Dieng to fully become polished. He shot below 30% on three-pointers this past season and was just 67% on free-throw attempts. While the shot does not look broken, he will need to take some notable steps forward on its efficiency. At his worst, he is a useful defensive-minded rotation piece but if he is able to develop offensively Dieng could be an effective long-term player.
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