Heat learns its likely draft position, pending draft lottery results
The Heat on Friday learned it more than likely will pick 13th in the NBA Draft after a random drawing to determine draft order among the franchises with the best record among non-playoff teams.
The Heat will pick 13th in the June 20 draft unless it overcomes long odds and moves into the top four during the May 14 NBA Draft lottery. But Miami also could move down to 14th in the unlikely event Sacramento breaks into the top four in the lottery.
The Heat, Kings and Hornets all have a roughly one percent chance of landing the No. 1 overall pick in the draft during the May 14 lottery and a 4.7 percent chance of securing a top four pick.
The Heat, as a result, will pick 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 13th or 14th in the draft.
A drawing was necessary because the Heat, Charlotte and Sacramento all finished 39-43.
Charlotte won that tiebreaker and will pick 12th if it doesn’t move up in the lottery. The Heat finished behind Charlotte but ahead of the Kings in that drawing, meaning Miami likely will pick 13th. The Kings must convey their pick to Boston or Philadelphia.
For the first time, the NBA Draft lottery will determine the order of the top four picks, instead of the top three. Teams will then pick in inverse order of record.
Duke forward Zion Williamson is expected to be the top overall pick, with Murray State point guard Ja Morant and Duke shooting guard R.J. Barrett expected to go 2-3 in some order.
There are various candidates for the fourth overall pick, including Virginia power forward DeAndre Hunter, Vanderbilt point guard Darius Garland, Texas Tech shooting guard Jarrett Culver and Duke small forward Cam Reddish.
As perspective on who could be available if Miami ends up picking in the early teens, Jonathan Givnoy, ESPN’s NBA draft analyst, rates these as the ninth through 16th best draft-eligible players: Texas center Jaxson Hayes, North Carolina shooting guard Coby White, Indiana small forward Romeo Langford, Gonzaga power forward Brandon Clarke, Southern California shooting guard Kevin Porter (who declared for the draft on Friday), Kentucky power forward P.J. Washington and North Carolina small forward Nassir Little.
The Heat also owns its first-round pick in the 2020 draft. But Miami’s 2021 first-round pick is now owed the Clippers, through Phoenix and Philadelphia, from the 2015 Goran Dragic trade. That pick is unprotected.
The Heat does not have a second-round pick any of the next four years.
Here were the players who were drafted 13th overall this century:
2018 Jerome Richardson, Boston College - Clippers
2017 Donovan Mitchell, Louisville – Denver Nuggets
2016 Georgios Papagiannis, Greece – Phoenix Suns
2015 Devin Booker, Kentucky – Phoenix Suns
2014 Zach LaVine, UCLA – Minnesota Timberwolves
2013 Kelly Olynyk, Gonzaga – Dallas Mavericks
2012 Kendall Marshall, UNC – Phoenix Suns
2011 Markieff Morris, Kansas – Phoenix Suns
2010 Ed Davis, UNC – Toronto Raptors
2009 Tyler Hansbrough, UNC – Indiana Pacers
2008 Brandon Rush, Kansas – Portland Trail Blazers
2007 Julian Wright, Kansas – New Orleans Hornets
2006 Thabo Sefolosha, Switzerland – Philadelphia 76ers
2005 Sean May, North Carolina – Charlotte Bobcats
2004 Sebastian Telfair, Lincoln HS (New York) – Portland Trail Blazers
2003 Marcus Banks, UNLV – Memphis Grizzlies
2002 Marcus Haislip, Tennessee – Milwaukee Bucks
2001 Richard Jefferson, Arizona – Houston Rockets
2000 Courtney Alexander, Fresno State – Orlando Magic
HASLEM WEIGHS IN
Though Udonis Haslem said he hasn’t decided whether to return for another season, he said: “It would bother me walking away knowing it’s not 100 percent solidified who that guy will be [as far as a caretaker of the Heat’s culture].
“I feel I still have a job to do. I don’t want to be sitting at home throwing stuff at the TV, cussing about certain things where we know better.”
He said Wednesday in Brooklyn “was an amazing moment, but it was Dwyane [Wade’s] moment. My wife, my kids weren’t there.”
WHITESIDE UPDATE
Hassan Whiteside attended his exit meeting but did not speak with reporters. He now will decide whether to opt out of $27 million next season; it would be surprising if he did, even though he wanted to play more than the 17.3 minutes per game he averaged coming off the bench over the final 19 games.
DRAGIC WEIGHS IN
Goran Dragic said he hasn’t decided whether to exercise his option for $19 million next season.
“Its’ not only my decision [but] my family, my kids, my agent,” he said of the late-June opt out deadline. “We’ll make the best possible decision for my career. I have until June 29. For me, it’s [time] to go on vacation, not to think about it. Still need to talk to the team.”
Dragic made clear he likes playing here.
“One of best organizations in the league; great people,” he said. “I have been here making the playoffs twice. To have people around, you want to come to work with them. Each guy has been treating me really well. The winning is No. 1. I want to win. I want to be here and win. It’s easier when you have this type of people around. They know what they’re doing and [how to] treat people around you.”
This story was originally published April 12, 2019 at 4:56 PM.