Draft analysts say Heat will have several good options

This year’s NBA Draft will be unprecedented in that not only will the date likely be moved from June 25, but teams won’t be able to evaluate players in postseason tournaments. Among the options in play for the Heat, who would pick 23rd if the regular season is finished:

Duke freshman center Vernon ● Carey Jr. (17.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, 1.6 blocks): Though ESPN draft analyst Mike Schmitz rates him only 28th among draft prospects, SI.com’s Jeremy Woo projects him to go 17th. That assumes he turns pro, which isn’t definite.

At 6-10 and 270 pounds, the son of the former UM and Dolphins offensive lineman has a developed hook shot and gets to the line a lot — 218 free-throw attempts in 31 games (he shot 57 percent on those free throws).

Schmitz says he’s a “physically imposing paint presence who has done a great job of improving his body and conditioning. At his best in the post. Shows potential as a perimeter shooter [8 for 21 on threes]. Should eventually make NBA threes with his feet set.”

But … he has “dealt with nagging injuries in high school and conditioning fluctuated. Doesn’t see the floor as a passer. Ball rarely comes back out after it’s entered to him. Struggles to defend in space.”

Duke NBA-bound sophomore ● point guard Tre Jones (16.2 points, 6.4 assists): A viable option at 23 for a team whose only pure point guard (Goran Dragic) will be entering free agency. He was named both the ACC Player of the Year and the ACC Defender of the Year. He had a good assist-to-turnover ratio for a college player (6.4 to 2.7) but he shot 42.3 percent this season and 36.1 on threes.

Memphis 6-9 freshman power ● forward Precious Achiuwa (15.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, 1.9 blocks): “At his best attacking the rim in space as a mismatch [power forward],” Schmitz said. SI.com has him 27th.

Arizona 6-11 freshman power ● forward/center Zeke Nnaji (16.3 points, 8.6 rebounds ). He declared for the draft this week, and Woo has Miami taking him 23rd, adding: “Although Nnaji is certainly raw skill-wise and has to get stronger, he’s consistently put up numbers and played notably hard for Arizona, and has won people over in the process. He’d give Miami another interior piece to develop moving forward, and offers some untapped offensive upside as well.”

Another Arizona player — ● freshman shooting guard Josh Green: The 6-2 guard averaged 11.7 points and 4.6 rebounds in one year at Arizona. SI.com has him 20th.

Maryland sophomore forward ● Jalen Smith: The highly skilled 6-10 forward averaged 15.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.4 blocks while displaying a three-point game (36.8 percent, 32 for 87). One negative: The Heat values passing skills in bigs, and Smith needs work in that regard (25 assists, 53 turnovers).

Mississippi State 6-11 sophomore ● power forward Reggie Perry (17.4 points, 10.1 rebounds, 1.2 blocks): He’s NBAdraft.net’s pick for Miami at 23.

FSU’s NBA-bound sophomore ● shooting guard Devin Vassell (12.7 points, 5.1 assists) and freshman forward Patrick Williams (9.2 points, 4.0 rebounds). The 6-6 Vassell, who announced last week that he’s turning pro, likely won’t make it to 23; SI.com has him going 13th. Woo has Williams going 22nd and said: “Offers untapped upside. He won’t be ready to contribute in the NBA next year.”

Another Kentucky player to ● join Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro? Kentucky freshman shooting guard Tyrese Maxey projects to be gone long before Miami’s pick, and two other

Wildcats — sophomore point guard Ashton Hagens and 6-3 sophomore guard Immanuel Quickley — are projected to go either in the late 20s or in the second round. Miami doesn’t have a second-round pick.

Two Washington Huskies: ● freshman power forward/center Isaiah Stewart (16.6 points, 8.7 rebounds) and freshman power forward Jaden McDaniels (13.1 points, 5.8 rebounds). SI.com has them going 16th and 15th, respectively.

Vanderbilt sophomore swingman ● Aaron Nesmith (23.0 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.4 steals). The 6-6 sophomore, who’s turning pro, shot 52.2 percent on threes (60 for 115) in 14 games before a foot injury. SI.com has him 19th.

Villanova sophomore small ● forward Saddiq Bey (16.1 points, 4.7 rebounds): A 6-8 player who nearly attended UM — before the bogus FBI investigation — and shot 45.1 percent on threes this past season (79 for 175). SI.com slots him 21st.

Alabama sophomore point ● guard Kira Lewis (18.5 points, 5.2 assists): He shot 36.6 percent on threes, but “he’s going to be able to put pressure on defenses in the open court,” said Woo, who slots him 25th. He’s turning pro.

CHATTER

Fox analyst and former Dolphins ● coach Jimmy Johnson likes what the Dolphins have done in free agency. “The Dolphins will be legitimate this year,” Johnson said. “Brian Flores has done an outstanding job with nothing last year. And with the players they have picked up — plus with what they’re going to be able to bring in with the draft, they will be a legitimate football team this year.”

ESPN’s Louis Riddick delivered ● a message to Dolphins fans this week: “I know the Miami Dolphins fan base has sat there and accused me of being a hater on this football team and thinking that Steve Young and myself don’t want them to do good and that they’re irresponsible, blah, blah, blah. But this is a team, with the expanded playoff format, why couldn’t the Miami Dolphins sneak in there?”

UM basketball has two scholarships ● left and is looking at one transfer with multiple years of eligibility left; Miami is among eight finalists for Illinois sophomore wing Alan Griffin (8.9 points, 4.5 rebounds). The Canes also are eyeing prep players — including Georgia-based Dylan Cardwell (Rivals’ No. 125 player).

Dolphins punter Matt Haack, ● who had been a restricted free agent, signed his tender and will remain with the Dolphins on a one-year, $2.1 million contract.

Former UM kicker Bubba ● Baxa transferred to Houston.

Barry Jackson: 305-376-3491, @flasportsbuzz