Sunday, June 14, 2015

2015 Draft Preview: Miami Heat

2015-16 Depth Chart
PG: Mario Chalmers/Shabazz Napier
SG: Tyler Johnson/Zoran Dragic
SF: James Ennis/Bill Henry Walker
PF: Chris Bosh/Josh McRoberts/Udonis Haslam
C: Hassan Whiteside/Chris Anderson

2015 Free Agents
F Michael Beasley (team option)
PG Goran Dragic (player option)
SF Luol Deng (player option)
SG Dwyane Wade (player option)

2015 Draft Picks
1-10
2-10(40)

Team Needs
Assuming that Goran Dragic, Luol Deng, and Dwyane Wade all opt-in or re-sign, Miami's starting lineup will be both set and stacked. However, depth is a real issue. James Ennis has potential to be a solid 3-and-D wing off of the bench if his shooting improves and Mario Chalmers is a decent backup point guard. But other than that... Chris Anderson will be 37 and Josh McRoberts is coming off of a torn meniscus, Considering Wade, Deng and Dragic's proclivity to get injured, Miami needs a better backup plan than Tyler Johnson, Henry Walker, and Shabazz Napier when the inevitable bumps and bruises come along.

Potential Fits
Miami is a team all-in on the next season or two, so they will likely be looking at players who can contribute right away, stick in a rotation, and step into the starting line-up in event of an injury. Looking at the players that will likely be available, Wisconsin power forward Frank Kaminsky is the most NBA ready; he can really shoot and is great handling the ball and passing. His ability to help you as both a high and low usage player is very valuable because he always be contributing. Kaminsky, however, does many of the things they are hoping to get from Josh McRoberts; though having multiple super-skilled big men is never a problem. If Arizona's Stanley Johnson falls to their pick, he would be another strong option as a backup and eventual replacement for Deng. Johnson also has the size to some play small-ball 4 but could guard many shooting guards as well, the kind of versatility Miami likes. Kelly Oubre of Kansas is more of a pure wing than Johnson, but he is more likely to be available and does a lot of things on both ends of the court. Oubre might not be as much of a day one contributor as Johnson or Kaminsky, but he has a higher upside. Kentucky guard Devin Booker's jumpshot will play from day one, and Miami loves shooters, but there are so questions about what else he can do. If Johnson is, as expected, off the board I think Kaminsky makes the most sense. In the second, they should target an NBA-ready role player to provide some inexpensive depth.

Mock Draft
10. Frank Kaminsky, F/C, Wisconsin
40. Norman Powell, SG, UCLA

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