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It is finally the day as the first round of the NBA Draft starts Wednesday with the Miami Heat looking to make moves to kick off what will no doubt be an eventful summer. As they currently have the 15th overall pick in the first round, here are last minute bold predictions for the Heat in the 2024 NBA Draft.
As mentioned before, this offseason is going to be crucial for Miami as besides looking to bolster the roster coming off of their second straight season finishing at the eighth seed as they were eliminated in the first round by the NBA Playoffs. While adding another star is on the to-do list, they even have to lock down their current players with contract extensions to Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo.
Before they can think of doing any of that though, they have the NBA Draft in front of them that they need to worry about, which the results could set up the Heat for the rest of the summer. With that being said, here are some last minute predictions for the team as the event starts Wednesday.
Heat trading up despite recent success in the middle of the first round?
In a report that was made by Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, Miami is one of the teams that could potentially move up in the draft from their 15th selection. The pick they are targeting would be the ninth overall which is owned by the Memphis Grizzlies according to “NBA figures.”
“Should Memphis ultimately decide to trade down from No. 9, Miami at No. 15 has been viewed as a possible move-up team mentioned by NBA figures,” Fischer wrote.
This would be shocking for multiple reasons with one being that the Heat organization led by President Pat Riley and general manager Andy Elisburg rarely move up from their original picks. This goes hand in hand with how successful Miami has been around the middle of the first round in the past.
Looking at the last five NBA Drafts for the Heat where they had a first round pick, they chose star Bam Adebayo (14th overall) in 2017, Tyler Herro (13th overall) in 2018, Precious Achiuwa (20th overall) in 2020, Nikola Jovic (27th overall) in 2022, and just recently with Jaime Jaquez Jr. (18th overall) in 2023. Aside from the Achiuwa selection which still haunts fans since Philadelphia 76ers star Tyrese Maxey was taken with the pick after, Miami has been stellar with their first round picks.
The Heat look to have the same success in 2024 but there has been a clear sentiment from across the basketball world that it could be not a fruitful draft class so trading up could be a mistake in the eyes of some. However, if Miami wants to trade up since they have intel that a prospect they love will get taken early, then maybe trust should be put on the organization.
Trading up for Providence's Devin Carter?
If the Heat were to trade up in the NBA Draft, who would be the prospect they are targeting? Well, according to the same Yahoo Sports report by Fischer, there could be clues pointed to Devin Carter out of Providence.
While Miami is not a clear mention until the end of the statement from Fischer, he says that Carter has been “one of the biggest risers in this class.” However, the buzz is that Carter could go eighth overall to the San Antonio Spurs which would be one spot before the speculative trade up to ninth for the Heat.
“There’s been plenty of buzz surrounding Providence guard Devin Carter being a possible pick for San Antonio at No. 8. Carter grinned while envisioning throwing lobs to a “big target” like [Victor] Wembanyama,” Fischer wrote. “Carter has been one of the biggest risers in this class. He worked out for Memphis – where his father, former NBA player Anthony Carter, is an assistant coach – Utah, Chicago, Miami and the Lakers in addition to San Antonio.”
Carter fits the “Heat Culture”
As it was said, the Heat did work out Carter during the pre-draft process which means they have significant interest on the guard, even besides the connections with his father, Anthony Carter, who played with the organization from 1999-2003. I have said on numerous occasions that Carter could quite possibly be my favorite player in the draft which seeing more teams are high on him than his original projection does not shock me in the slightest.
While Miami does not usually make a big move like trading up in the draft, I could envision Carter being the player they do it for since he fits the “Heat Culture” extremely well with his intensity on the defensive end of the ball and his explosiveness on offense. Even looking at a mock draft from Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman, he had Carter going to the Heat at 15 with having “unteachable defensive intensity” which if that does not scream a Heat player, I don't know what does.
“Unteachable defensive intensity, toughness and instincts separate Carter and fuel his identity, though he’s entered the lottery conversation by developing into a dangerous shot-maker and crafty pick-and-roll ball-handler,” Wasserman wrote.
Zach Edey worth the risk for Miami?
Another interesting prediction for the Heat in the NBA Draft is the thought of them selecting Purdue star and back to back Naismith Player of the Year Zach Edey. Standing at seven-foot, four-inches and weighing 300 pounds according to the NBA, it would bring the Heat an aspect that has not been seen from them in a while in terms of a center.
It has been talked about for years how the Heat needs size as there is no doubt that Edey solves that issue right from the jump along with a menacing presence at the rim and setting up screens. There also is interest as he worked out with the team according to HoopsHype's tracker.
Edey paired with Adebayo a good fit for Miami?
While there has always been discussions about pairing a big center with Bam Adebayo, there are still concerns about Edey and if he will be able to adapt to the NBA pace. Especially in terms of the Heat who are known to play faster ever since Adebayo moved to the center position where he is more agile and athletic compared to others in the position due to his size.
However, there still has been mock drafts where the Heat get Edey with the 15th overall pick as just recently by Raphielle Johnson of NBC Sports who said the talented big-man is a “worthwhile option.”
“After reaching the NBA Finals last season, the Heat failed to get out of the first round, as the “Play-In tournament” magic wasn't available this time,” Johnson wrote. “The acquisition of Terry Rozier didn't have much of an impact due to his going down with an injury. At the same time, Jimmy Butler and Tyler Herro also missed extended periods last season. Where will the Heat look on draft night? Edey would be a worthwhile option, even with Bam Adebayo firmly entrenched as the starting center. The 7-foot-4 big man out of Purdue is one of the most accomplished players in this draft class, and he tested reasonably well at the NBA Draft Combine. There are questions regarding how Edey's game will translate defensively, but he makes for a tough matchup on the other end.”
Edey projected to be in the range of Miami
Johnson was not the only one as even Jonathan Givony of ESPN sees Edey going in the range of the Heat from 9-15, which could make them moving up in the draft seem viable if they are targeting Edey.
“Teams say Edey's range appears to be in the Nos. 9-19 range based on the workouts he has conducted and scheduled,” Givony wrote. “He was with the Toronto Raptors this past week, will visit the Los Angeles Lakers, and is in the conversation at Memphis (9), Utah (10), Chicago (11), Oklahoma City (12), Portland (14) and Miami (15).”
“He sets wide, bruising screens at 7-foot-5, 298 pounds and is an outstanding mark rolling to the paint and catching everything thrown his way with his huge, magnetic hands and 7-foot-11 wingspan,” Givony said in Edey's scouting report. Purdue's small guards would often throw the ball up in the general vicinity of the rim under duress and let Edey go catch it. He understands the art of rescreening if his initial pick doesn't achieve the desired outcome, and has improved his ability to operate out of zoom actions/dribble-handoffs, catch-and-make decisions out of short rolls, or mix-in slips to keep defenses off-balance.”
While these are just three different predictions, there is also a bevy of other options that can happen in the NBA Draft in regards to the Heat. For example, maybe they trade the 15th overall pick, move down, or even trade for a star player which would kickoff an integral summer for Miami as the draft starts Wednesday and continues Thursday.
