2026 NBA Draft: 5 wings Heat fans should keep tabs on midway through season

NBA Draft Miami Heat — With less than five months until the 2026 NBA Draft, who are five wings that Miami Heat fans should monitor? (Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images)

We are less than five months away from the 2026 NBA Draft, where the Miami Heat own just one pick! In the second of a three-part series detailing prospects to keep an eye on the rest of the men’s basketball regular season, we dive into potential wing prospects! On Sunday, we did guards!

Let’s not waste any more time and dive into it!

Koa Peat, Arizona

Skinny: I love Peat’s game. Though where I have trouble with him is his shooting — or lack thereof. He doesn’t have good touch outside of ~15 feet, and that will be an issue at the next level as a big wing/undersized big. That said, Peat, the son of former NFL OL Todd Peat, is built like a Mack Truck. He’s an excellent passer, is sneaky bouncy, smart team defender and is crafty around the rim with very good footwork.

Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan

Skinny: Lendeborg will be one of the oldest prospects in the class upon draft time. The 6-foot-9 wing is the most impactful player on one of the best teams in the country. The two-time AAC player of the year is averaging 14.4 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.9 stocks in his lone season at Michigan. He offers a very high floor as a rebounder, connector and play finisher. He’s excellent in the open floor and is a very smart player on both ends.

Tounde Yessoufou, Baylor

Skinny: I’ve moved Yessoufou all around my big board this season. Where he stands out is defensively — he’s an absolute monster on that end of the floor. For one, his motor is a 15 out of 10 on every possession. He’s incredibly strong; he’s built like a linebacker. It’s very difficult for guards to create separation because of Yessoufou’s center of gravity and core strength. Where I’ve struggled is offensively. Despite his ball skills and shooting (or lack thereof), he’s still averaging 17.7 points on 57.4 percent true shooting. He’s not a good shot creator on-ball at this stage, but there’s a world where that comes around. It’s going to take time, though.

Nate Ament, Tennessee

Miami Heat NBA Draft — (Mandatory Credit: Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)

Skinny: I was intrigued by Ament heading into the season. Though he’s gradually slipped down my board. That reason why I put him here is that I still think there’s a good player in there. His last four games — especially his most recent outing against Alabama — were steps in the right direction. Ament is nowhere near as strong as he’ll need to be. He throws his body into defenders when he’s trying to get downhill and … it just doesn’t work all that often. He’s done a better job leveraging his physicality in SEC play, though. I’m also a buyer in his shot in the long-term, too.

Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State

Skinny: Jefferson is another older prospect. He’s been one of the best players in the Big 12 through 20 games, averaging 17.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.0 blocks. He’s not spry. But where Jefferson’s made the most improvement is with his shooting. His brain is a legitimate weapon — he sees plays before they happen on both ends. Jefferson’s instincts are otherworldly. Though if he’s knocking down shots, he becomes that much more lethal in an NBA context.