NBA Draft 2017: 5 targets for the Miami Heat

Apr 12, 2017; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat guard Goran Dragic (center) greets Heat center Hassan Whiteside (left) and Heat guard Wayne Ellington (right) during a timeout in the second half against the Washington Wizards at American Airlines Arena. The Heat won 110-102. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

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Mar 10, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard Luke Kennard (5) reacts after hitting a three-point shot against the North Carolina Tar Heels during the second half of an ACC Conference Tournament game at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Luke Kennard, Duke SG

Luke Kennard might be one of the better fits for the Heat, but finds himself at a position that they don’t need as much as they need a small forward or scoring big man.

The former Duke player is an incredible scorer and solid 3-point threat, and would immediately contribute to the Heat’s offense. The league at this point is built around 3-point shooting, and the Heat adding a shooter like Kennard would be a strong move.

Last season, as a sophomore for the Blue Devils, Kennard averaged 19.5 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game, and shot about 44 percent from beyond the arc. He’s 6-foot-6 with a 6-foot-5 wingspan, so he’s not going to be taking advantage of anyone with his size, but is reminiscent of Klay Thompson on the court in his scoring ability.

His defensive presence is severely lacking, but can obviously be worked on since he’s just about to turn 21 years old. For now, you’re getting what you see with Kennard, and what you see is a true scorer who can take over a game in an instant.

Kennard has worked out for the Heat recently, and the interest seems to be there in the Duke product, so it seems like a good fit. He may not be the best option out there, but Kennard is a top-15 player in the draft that should be around if some of the better fits aren’t around anymore.

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