Miami Heat second-round pick KZ Okpala already has an idea of where his game could go in the future.
Okpala told Ira Winderman of South Florida Sun Sentinel that he compares himself to Brandon Ingram, Trevor Ariza and Al-Farouq Aminu.
Asked for his NBA comps, Heat second-round pick KZ Okpala today offered Brandon Ingram, Trevor Ariza and Al-Farouq Aminu.
— Ira Winderman (@IraHeatBeat) July 8, 2019
Okpala entered the 2019 NBA Draft after a two-year stint at Stanford University. The 6-foot-9 forward averaged 16.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.0 assists while shooting 46.3 percent from the floor, 36.8 percent from 3-point range and 67.1 percent from the free throw line in 29 games of his sophomore year in the Pac-12.
The Phoenix Suns selected Okpala with the 32nd overall in the 2019 draft, but the 2-year-old was later sent to Miami in a three-team trade involving the Indiana Pacers. The Heat sent three second-round picks (2022, 2025 and 2026) to the Suns, while Phoenix gave veteran forward T.J. Warren and cash to the Pacers.
The Heat also drafted University of Kentucky product guard Tyler Herro in the first round of the draft with the 13th overall pick. Herro is a 6-foot-6 shooting guard who spent one season in the SEC under Coach John Calipari.
Ingram, Okpala's personal comparison, is a 21-year-old forward who was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans in the blockbuster Anthony Davis deal. He was selected with the second overall pick in the 2016 draft.
Ariza is a 15-year NBA veteran wing with a 35.1 percent career 3-point mark. He last played for the Suns and Washington Wizards during the 2018-19 season and is a free agent.
Aminu, a 28-year-old forward, signed with the Orlando Magic this offseason and is known as an above-average defender.
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