Pre-Draft Outlook
Miami managed to salvage a 2022-23 season that initially was headed south (no pun intended) because a batch of undrafted players performed above their scouting reports. The trick now is to extend some of those players, Max Strus and Gabe Vincent in particular. Should Miami be successful, then the Heat are on track to once again be a serious contender in the East. The team has solid players at every position and of course, Jimmy Butler. There is another option: Miami could swing for the fences and package some of those players (Tyler Herro?) and the No. 18 pick for a disgruntled star, such as Damian Lillard (provided Lillard is ready to bail on Portland and the Blazers believe that price is right). Bottom line is the Heat are sitting in the driver’s seat with regard to roster building and risk-taking.
The Way To Go
The odds of getting a very good rotational player with a middle first-round pick is always iffy. Crazy thing is, Miami has been more successful getting players who weren’t drafted and turning them into quality rotational pieces. That’s why there’s a chance Miami could trade the pick for quality help, especially at point guard, where Kyle Lowry isn’t getting any younger. Miami has one of the league’s best player development programs and this bodes well for whomever is taken 18th overall. Should Miami keep the pick, it might be helpful if someone with size is available, because there’s no quality backup behind Bam Adebayo. Or if the Heat is feeling territorial, Miami might be able to get Michigan 6-foot-8 guard Jett Howard if he falls; his father, Juwan, played for the Heat from 2010-13.
— Shaun Powell
Here’s a quick look at who the Miami Heat have under contract, who is a free agent this summer and who they added in the 2022 NBA Draft.
Under Contract
G: Tyler Herro
G: Kyle Lowry
F: Jimmy Butler
F: Haywood Highsmith
F: Nikola Jovic
F: Caleb Martin
F: Duncan Robinson
C/F: Bam Adebayo
Free Agents
G: Gabe Vincent (unrestricted)
G: Victor Oladipo (player option)
G/F: Max Strus (unrestricted)
F: Jamal Cain (two-way)
F/C: Kevin Love (unrestricted)
F/C: Cody Zeller (unrestricted)
C: Orlando Robinson (two-way)
C: Omer Yurtseven (restricted)
> 2023 Free Agent Tracker
Last Year’s Draft
2022: Nikola Jovic (27)
* = acquired via trade
** = traded in draft-night deal
*** = traded in offseason deal