Power forwards with range top position rating

A look at the top five power forward candidates in Thursday’s NBA draft, the Heat’s perspective at the position, plus a sleeper and rating the field:

1. Lauri Markkanen, 7-0, Arizona, freshman: The best of the lot of the “newwave” power forwards who dominate this draft class at the position, with an outside stroke to draw opposing big men to the perimeter and then take them off the dribble.

2. Zach Collins, 7-0, Gonzaga, freshman: Initially considered a prospect at center, Collins has show a versatility and skill set during his pre-draft workouts that has him viewed more as a complement to a power player than a pivot presence himself.

3. Harry Giles, 6-10, Duke, freshman: After he underwent major surgeries on both knees, some have come to view Giles as more of a prospect at center because of concerns about mobility. Yes his workouts have shown signs of his preinjury versatility.

4. John Collins, 6-10, Wake Forest, sophomore: The Cardinal Newman product out of West Palm Beach is viewed as a throwback at the position, with the type of low-post game rarely seen in this era of the stretch-four. Does that game still fit today’s NBA?

5. T.J. Leaf, 6-10, UCLA, freshman: While many point to Leaf as today’s prototypic NBA stretch four, that is more about his shooting stroke than any type of muscle game capable of competing on the defensive end. And that sort of defeats the purpose of being a stretch four.

Sleeper: Somehow, with the newest things coming to be viewed as the best things, Cal’s Ivan Rabb has gotten lost in the shuffle, after being considered a lottery pick had he come out a year ago as a freshman. Someone is going to get a value pick late in the first or early in the second round.

Rating the field: There once was an era when power forwards were measured by their ability to muscle up. This is not that era. Just about every leading power forward in this draft class is measured by his ability to drain threes. For the most part, the post game has left the building.

Heat need: As with so many of the Heat’s offseason questions, this could come down to free agency, including whether James Johnson can be retained or Blake Griffin can be enticed. But after going with Luke Babbitt last season, this stands as a position of need, even with the possibility of Justise Winslow shifting into such a role.