IN THE LANE
THE 16TH SENSE: So what happens Thursday at Barclays Center with what turned into the No. 16 pick, dealt by the Heat to the Phoenix Suns in 2015 as part of the Goran Dragic trade? Here’s what the mock drafts are saying (keeping in mind that the Suns’ needs do not mirror those of the Heat): ESPN — Zhaire Smith, forward Texas Tech; NBADraft.net — Donte DiVincenzo, guard, Villanova; HoopsHype.com — Kevin Knox, forward; Kentucky; CBS (Reid Forgrave) — Knox; CBS (Gary Parrish) — Khyri Thomas, guard, Creighton; NBC Sports — Robert Williams, center, Texas A&M; Yahoo — Thomas; The Ringer — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, guard, Kentucky; Sports Illustrated — Smith; USA Today — Lonnie Walker, guard, Miami; Bleacher Report — Gilgeous-Alexander; Basketball Insiders — Smith; Tankathon — Smith.
ALTERNATE MEANS: Why are the Suns considering going big at the top of Thursday’s NBA draft with the No. 1 pick? Apparently because general manager Ryan McDonough is heeding words from Heat coach Erik Spoelstra. “I think Erik Spoelstra had a quote a few weeks ago that the way to beat Golden State is to not out-Golden State them and try to do what they do,” McDonough told media in Phoenix. “Right now, Golden State has kind of set the trend but, you know, we’ll see if a team with a dominant big man can change that trend over time.” The irony, of course, is that Spoelstra moved away from Hassan Whiteside during the Heat’s playoff loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, albeit at a time when Whiteside seemingly gave him little choice.
INTERESTING TAKE: 76ers coach Brett Brown, who is also handling interim personnel duties in Philadelphia, offered an interesting take regarding his team’s salary-cap space amid his team’s draft workouts. “We know what our targets will be in free agency and what we’re looking for in the NBA draft,” he told reporters. “But if we’re not successful, if we’re not able this year to achieve that, it’s not going to be like we’re going to lose our minds and pivot out and do something that’s reckless.” A parallel there could be what the Heat did last summer, in capping themselves out with the contracts to James Johnson, Dion Waiters and Kelly Olynyk. The difference is the Heat also had to move in advance of Tyler Johnson’s escalating salary.
FIRST IMPRESSION: Former Heat assistant David Fizdale is winning over the New York Knicks, even before coaching his first game. Guard Damyean Dotson, among those Fizdale took to a Boston Celtics playoff game, told the New York Post that the first impressions have been impressive. “Coach is a great guy,” Dotson said. “He knows what he is talking about — very detailed and makes sure everyone is on the same page, feeding off each other and together. He’s big in to making sure we come together, play together and believe in each other, that we produce, play hard and scrappy — all the things that you want a coach to do. He inherited that mindset from [Pat] Riley and Spoelstra. He has instilled a great culture in himself and wants to put that into our team.”