The Miami Heat were granted the No. 10 overall pick in this year’s draft with the conclusion of the NBA Draft Lottery on May 19.
After a disappointing season that saw the franchise miss the postseason for the first time in seven years, the No. 10 pick represents an opportunity for the team to continue to reload in the post-LeBron James era.
The team is set at the starting center, power forward and shooting guard spots. As far as the other two starting slots and the bench, the Heat have many holes to fill.
The starting small forward and point guard spots all depend upon whether or not Luol Deng picks up his player option and Goran Dragic re-signs with Miami.
Even if both of those scenarios work out, the Heat have a weak bench and desperately need players who can contribute right away during their rookie seasons.
Whether it’s because of a lack of fit for the team’s needs or just merely because they are considered projects at the moment, here are five players the Heat should avoid in this year’s draft:
1. Frank Kaminsky, C, Wisconsin
Many are high on the University of Wisconsin product entering the draft.
Projected to be a late lottery pick, Frank Kaminsky is a 7-foot center who is an offensive force capable of taking advantage of defenses with his ability to shoot the basketball from around the court.
During his senior season at Wisconsin, Kaminsky converted on 41.6 percent of his three-point shots. He was the Badgers’ main offensive weapon in their run to the National Championship game.
While he would be a perfect fit in most offenses, the Heat are not in need of another big who relies heavily upon a mid-range and long-range game to score the basketball. Miami has a carbon copy of that type of player in Bosh.
While some may argue that Kaminsky could play a role off the bench, the Heat are in desperate need of a tough post-up player who can bully opponents.
The Wisconsin product is just not what Miami is looking for at the current moment.
Next: Kristaps Porzingis
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2. Kristaps Porzingis, PF, Latvia
Kristaps Porzingis is the latest overseas sensation whose stock is rising as we inch closer to the draft.
Porzingis excels at shooting and has great mobility at 7’1″ and 220 pounds. Despite being over seven feet tall, 27 percent of his shots with Balancesto Sevilla in the ACB league in Spain were three-point shot attempts. He converted on 36.9 percent of those shots.
There is little doubt that Porzingis can light it up offensively when the game isn’t physical. In the NBA however, he will have difficulty adjusting to the bigger and more physical bodies that the American game offers.
He is devoid of a post-up game, has very little to offer as a passer/ball-handler and avoids contact due to his lack of muscle.
This is a European product that could be drafted before the Heat even make their selection at the No. 10 spot. Let’s hope that is the case as Porzingis is too much of a project for Miami to take a chance on.
Next: Bobby Portis
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3. Bobby Portis, PF, Arkansas
Bobby Portis is a 6’11,” 245-pound product out of the University of Arkansas. He is projected to be a mid first-round draft pick.
An NBA player comparison is perhaps David West of the Indiana Pacers. West is shorter at 6’9,” but Portis possesses a very similar game to that of the Pacers power forward. He’s a great face-up player and is incredibly tough to guard when he drives to the paint. He also relies heavily upon his mid-range game.
While he has a polished offensive game on jump shots, he leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to a post-up game. Portis will be a nice addition for many NBA teams but Miami has better options elsewhere in the draft.
Next: Montrezl Harrell
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4. Montrezl Harrell, PF, Louisville
Montrezl Harrell is a 6’8,” 240-pound power forward out of the University of Louisville.
Harrell played three years with the Cardinals, having won a National Championship in 2013 as a freshman. The power forward averaged 15.7 points and 9.2 rebounds per contest in his senior season. He shot 56.6 percent from the field but shot just 59.7 from the free-throw line.
Harrell is your prototypical “garbage man.” He scores a lot of his points off alley-oops and lobs. He loves drawing fouls and initiating contact. Because many of his field goal attempts come from lobs and alley-oops, he converted on 65 percent from around the rim last year.
While he is a subpar free throw shooter, he did improve from his sophomore to his junior season. As a sophomore, he converted on just 46 percent of his free throw attempts.
He is a physical and aggressive role player who hustles. The question is, do the Heat really want to spend the No. 10 overall pick on a player of that caliber?
Next: Sam Dekker
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5. Sam Dekker, SF, Wisconsin
Sam Dekker is a versatile small forward who played three years at the University of Wisconsin.
Dekker is best as a spot-up shooter as he doesn’t excel in any single area. He is fundamentally sound and has good size at 6’9″ and 229 pounds.
While he is tall, his wingspan leaves a little to be desired (6’10”). For much of the 2014-15 season, he played a complementary role to Kaminsky. However, he excelled during the first four games of the NCAA tournament as he averaged 21.7 points and 5.5 rebounds while shooting 60 percent from the field and 48 percent from three-point range.
Dekker is a strong and fluid athlete but his lack of lateral quickness will cost him at the NBA level on defense. Another weakness of the small forward is the fact that he shot just 30.2 percent on mid-range jumpers last season.
The Wisconsin product is a nice project who can perhaps develop into a solid role player one day in the NBA, but it’s unlikely he’ll make an immediate impact during his rookie season.
The Heat are in dire need of players that can contribute right off the bat, and Dekker likely isn’t one of those players.
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