MIAMI — It is during these hours ahead of the NBA Draft, which this year is Thursday at 8 p.m., when Miami Heat president Pat Riley stands as enamored with the process as at any stage of the calendar.
To his credit, among the recent picks he has retained, the Heat largely have maximized, from Bam Adebayo in 2017 to Tyler Herro in 2019 to the trade commodity that was developed with Precious Achiuwa in 2020 to even the intrigue of Nikola Jovic last June.
“I think you have to take into account that the draft is important, younger players on rookie-scale contracts that can play,” Riley said this week. “I think our development program has proven that these guys can play if you expose them somewhat to big moments.”
But there also is Riley’s win-now mandate that often leaves the Heat leaving the draft to others, thus no first-round picks in 2021, 2018 and 2016, plus a future pick already due the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2025 or 2026.
So that means that nothing is a given either leading into a draft or on draft night with Riley.
That again rings true this time around, with the Heat’s options at No. 18 including:
— Utilizing the pick and retaining the selection in a draft deep with the very type of versatile wing players that Riley said during Tuesday’s media session have become the lifeblood of current NBA success.
— Making a selection for another team, either for a trade to be consummated later in the draft or after the start of the league’s new salary-cap calendar on July 1. The Heat and Riley have a history of making picks for other teams, including P.J. Hairston in 2014, Arnett Moultrie in 2012 and Jason Smith in 2007, first-round Heat selections who never played for the Heat.
— Packaging the pick with other assets in a major move, as has been rumored with Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard.
— Trading the pick for another team’s 2025 first-round pick. That, in turn, would unlock the Heat’s obligations of their own 2025 first-rounder going to the Thunder, making the Heat eligible to trade any non-consecutive future first-round picks (by NBA rule, a team cannot be without consecutive first-round picks in successive future years.)
So the work has been put in, with first-round prospects having made the workout rounds at Kaseya Center, and with the Heat having traveled to combines and agent-organized group sessions.
“I think we’re in a good strong position,” said Adam Simon, the team’s vice president of basketball operations and assistant general manager, “and I think there’s a lot of good talent throughout the first round.”
As was the case last year, when the Heat drafted Jovic out of Serbia, the search has gone far and wide, including the overseas prospects in the Heat’s range.
“As a staff,” Simon said, “we’ve seen them in different places, whether it’s been with their teams this year, or with their national teams who have come over. We’ve tried to find different opportunities to see them. But we’ve been following for a couple of years and I think you follow the growth. You might see a player last year, in one setting, and then they improve, get better, finding their game. I think we know them pretty well.”
The Heat do not have a second-round pick on Thursday night, but do have the resources under cap rules to purchase a selection, with teams allowed to spend up to $6.4 million per cap year on such moves.
The Heat had to forfeit last year’s second-round pick due to what the NBA rules as illegal negotiating timing with Kyle Lowry in 2021 free agency.
The Heat also do not hold a second-round pick in next year’s draft.
Heat projections
With a five-minute limit between picks, a Heat No. 18 selection should come between 9:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. Thursday.
A look at the forecasts for possible selection at No. 18, based on notable mock drafts:
ESPN (Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo): Nick Smith, wing, Arkansas.
ESPN (Dick Vitale): Leonard Miller, wing, G League.
The Athletic (Sam Vecenie): Jordan Hawkins, wing, Connecticut.
The Ringer (Kevin O’Connor): Smith.
CBS Sports (Gary Parrish): Brice Sensabaugh, wing, Ohio State.
Yahoo Sports (Krysten Peek): Miller.
Draft party
The Heat are hosting a draft party Thursday at the outdoor AT&T East Plaza at Kaseya Center, with doors to open at 7 p.m.
There is no admission charge, but those planning to attend must register online for tickets at the team’s website. Parking is available in the P2 garage at $10 per vehicle.
The event will feature the televised coverage of the draft, with select concessions and retail locations open inside the Kaseya Center.
