Heat focused on No. 20 but also have wider perspective
Typically, when Adam Simon is asked about his vantage point for theNBA draft, it is about whether the Miami Heat will go big or small, trade up or trade down, take the sure thing or seize upon untapped potential.
This year, it has been about the vantage point the Heat assistant general manager has had when it has come to scouting prospects amid a pandemic.
Some workouts have come via teleconference, others in person, either at AmericanAirlines Arena or elsewhere. With some prospects, the limit of the interactions have beenZoominterviews.
But the tape has been scoured, metrics measured and the team’s draft board is filled with 60 prospects, one for each selection in Wednesday’s two-round process.
So shortly before 10 p.m. on Wednesday, the Heat will make their statement with the No. 20 selection, provided they don’t move up, down or out.
What is knownis theHeat have had face time with Memphis forward PreciousAchiuwa, North Carolina guard Cole Anthony, Duke center Vernon Carey Jr., Kentucky guard Tyrese Maxey, Vanderbilt guard Aaron Nesmith, Arizona forward Zeke Nnaji, Kentucky guardImmanuelQuickley andMaryland forward Jalen Smith, among others.
“The challenge of this draft [is that] someof the players at the top of the draft [either] didn’t play a lot during the season [because of the onset of the coronavirus] or they went overseas,” Simon said. “But I think the draft is deep. There are good players.
“At this point, we have the 20th pick. We feel good about the players that we’ve studied and our board. I think we can find a good player.”
Or, perhaps, the Heat will get greedy and try to talk team president Pat Riley and GMAndy Elisburg into more.
Several teams have multiple first-round picks that could be available for trade, plus there is the possibility of buying into the second round, with theHeat lacking a second-round selection.
“I thinkmy responsibility to our organization isbetweenour scouting department, who can we sell
[to] PatandAndy, whoare the players that we think best fit what we want?” Simon said. “So as of now we have a first-round pick. But who’s to say that we’re picking and there’s two players out there, and the player falls to the second round?
“For every team that doesn’t have a pick, that means some team has multiple sand maybe they don’t want their picks. So if an opportunity comes up where the price is right and we can jump in there, you weigh that.
“There’s been years where we didn’t want more players, and we ended up taking ’em. And if it doesn’twork, it doesn’twork. But at least you’re going after the players that youwant.” Whether volume is necessary is debatable, with the Heat already with KZ Okpala, Chris Silva, Gabe Vincent, Kyle Alexander, and even Tyler Herro, Kendrick Nunn, DuncanRobinson andBam Adebayo in their development pipeline. “I thinkwe look at it like, ‘Yeah, we have a good group of young prospects that still have a lot of upside,’ ” Simon said. “There’s been years where you’ve been an older team, and now we have a good group of young players. But I think you look at it, with two-way contracts and having your own G League team, I think it gives you options to add players, not necessarily asonyour15-manroster, but youcandraft a player andtwo-way him. And you can maybe hold their rights, aswell.
“So I think it’s our responsibility to rank 60 players and also be prepared for who’s not going to get drafted. And that’s just as big a part of the draft as the draft itself. I know it means a lot to get your draft pick right, but we’ve been able to find players who weren’t drafted. So we’re pretty thorough of going through over 100-plus players.”
Based on howfree agency plays out when that process starts at 6 p.m. onFriday, theHeat couldfind themselves with specific areas of need in their bid to return to the NBAFinals.
But Simon said such thinking can be dangerous in a draft.
“It’s always thetaking-the-bestplayer rule,” he said. “But that’s all subjective.
“And the best player might be the bestplayer that fits your roster. And so, at the end of the day, like wealways say, ‘Rosterscanchange; trades can happen.’
“There’s years where, yes, you are a championship-contending team and youmight have this type of player who fits. But you have to be careful because if you pass on talent based on need, the talent you passed on could be the best player five years downthe road.”