NBA Free Agency 2017: 5 offseason needs for the Miami Heat
By Noah Torr
2. The Heat can’t afford to flub their draft pick
Miami does not hold the rights to their 2018 first round pick or their 2021 first round draft pick due to the Goran Dragic trade with Phoenix. The good news for the Heat is that they have their pick this year in a loaded 2017 draft class which has budding superstars all over the board.
The Heat, currently, has a mix of guys on the roster; some are veterans and some are young guys who still need to prove their worth. This summer is when Pat Riley needs to make his choice to go big or go home. He can swing for the fences and sign a whale to pair with a group of veterans and chase after a ring. Or, he can dial it back and go after young players who need some direction. No one around the league is certain about what Riley is going to do, and I don’t think Riley quite knows either.
In our latest mock draft, created by Chris Stone, the Heat pick Luke Kennard with the 14th pick in the draft. Kennard could be an excellent selection for the Heat since he plays such a versatile style of offense. He can create his own offense, he is great off of the pick-and-roll (which the Heat run quite a bit with Whiteside), and he can shoot lights out from beyond the arc.
He was not the best defender in college, but under the tutelage of Erik Spoelstra, he could turn out to be an outstanding player and a pivotal piece in the Heat’s future.