The Miami Heat are coming off of a disappointing 2018-19 NBA season that saw them miss the playoffs in what was Dwyane Wade's final season in the league. As the season came down the stretch, it appeared that Miami might have a chance to squeeze in. Unfortunately, they could not get the job done.
Now, there are quite a few questions facing the successful franchise as they turn to the future.
Wade is no longer in town, which leaves a gaping hole from a leadership perspective. Hassan Whiteside and Goran Dragic could both be on their way out of town should they choose to do so. There is also the issue of a losing season and needing to find more talent to add to the roster this offseason.
Miami isn't going to have much money to spend this offseason, which will handcuff what they are able to do. That leaves the No. 13 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft as a very valuable asset. They won't get one of the top stars in the draft class, but they can still get a guy who can make an immediate impact.
Let's dive in and take a look at the three best options for the Heat with the No. 13 overall pick.
3. Stand Pat and Take IU Guard Romeo Langford
One of the top options for the Heat should be to stick with the No. 13 pick and take Indiana combo guard Romeo Langford. While he did not perform up to expectations in his freshman year with the Hoosiers, Langford has big-time talent and the potential to become a star at the next level.
Langford ended up averaging 16.5 points per game to go along with 5.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists. He shot 44.8 percent from the field and knocked down just 27.2 percent of his three-point attempts. Those numbers may not shout out future star, but if he develops into his full potential there is no doubt that he can get there.
2. Try to Trade Up to Get Cameron Reddish
Quite possibly the best outcome would be trading up high enough to get Duke star Cameron Reddish. He may not come with the hype that Zion Williamson or R.J. Barrett are receiving, but Reddish was a huge player for the Blue Devils. Reddish also projects to be a potential two-way star at the next level.
Miami isn't going to find moving up for him easy. They would likely have to move up to around the pick No. 7 to No. 10 range, but they have the assets that could get that done. Reddish may be a bit of a project, but if they work with him he could be the star that takes them back to contention in a few years.
1. Trade Down and Target Carsen Edwards Plus More Assets
Finally, the Heat could be in a position where they could trade down to the late first round and acquire future assets. If they do that, Purdue point guard Carsen Edwards could make a lot of sense for them. They are going to need scoring and will need to plan for the future after Dragic.
Edwards led Purdue on a deep March Madness run and was an absolute stud last season. He averaged 24.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game, while shooting 38.2 percent from the field and 34 percent from downtown. There is a lot of work for him to do, but Miami would be a solid landing spot for him to develop.
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