The 2026 NBA Draft Combine, held in Chicago, Ill., was held this week, where nearly 70 participants showcased their abilities in front of dozens of evaluators — from analysts to scouts to front office executives. With the Miami Heat owning two picks (No. 13 and 41), who were a few winners and losers to take note of less than six weeks until the June 23 draft?! Let’s examine!
Morez Johnson Jr., F/C, Michigan: Stock Up
Skinny: Johnson was a gigantic winner — figuratively and literally — this week. He crushed practically every athletic test (relative to other forwards) while sporting the third-longest wingspan (7′ 3.5″, a plus-6.5) and eighth-highest standing reach. He also finished with the sixth-most made threes (17!!) in the star drill, far better than what I expected entering the week.
The tape for Johnson speaks for itself: He’s an animal with an insane motor. But Johnson had himself quite the week. I have no problem turning in the card for him at 13.
Cameron Carr, G, Baylor: Stock Up
Skinny: You could argue that there was no bigger winner this week than Carr, highlighted by his 30-point onslaught in his lone five-on-five scrimmage. The 6-foot-5 has been one of #MyGuys™ for most of the season.
Son of former dunk contest contestant Chris Carr, the Baylor guard reaffirmed my belief that he’s one of the most athletic players in this class, finishing with the second-highest no-step vertical (38″) and max vertical (42.5″). He didn’t quite shoot as well as I thought, but he still finished inside the top-15 in the off-the-dribble shooting drill, while appearing to have added nine pounds(184.4) from his listed 175-pound playing weight.
Koa Peat, F, Arizona: Stock Down
Skinny: I’ve been lower on Peat than the consensus for most of the pre-draft process. He didn’t do himself any favors this week. Peat’s incredibly bouncy at 250 pounds, but the swing skill was always his shooting. And the 6-foot-8 wing killed his stock this week because of it. He was incredibly reluctant in his lone season at Arizona and finished a combine-worst 7-of-25 on the spot-up shooting drill, with the fourth-worst star shooting mark.
Ebuka Okorie, G, Stanford: Stock Up
Skinny: Okorie was another strong winner. He’s a small guard, which is a blind spot for me. But he clocked in with a plus-six wingspan, an above-average vertical and shuttle run. His spot-up shooting (19-25) and off-the-dribble (23-30) scores were both top-10 marks among all participants. He’s another where the tape speaks for itself, but I feel even more confident in his pro stock after this week than I did before.
Dailyn Swain, F, Texas: Stock Down
Skinny: Swain has been mocked to the Heat at 13 a few different times … and I’m just not quite there. His athletic testing was fairly mediocre, although I will give him some credit: He shot the ball better than I expected. But within that was poor form: He has a bad hitch in his jumper that will need serious fixing. Kinetically, he’s all out of sorts.
Swain’s stock this week took a slight ding, although I was already lower than the consensus. Who were you most impressed by? Let us know in the comments!
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Excerpts from allucanheat. I guess it means Ware, Jaquez, Larsson, Jakucionis, 2026 pick and furure picks (and pick swaps) are on the table.
Heat writer finally says the quiet part out loud about their young coreThe Heat’s young core is far from untouchable…
The Heat want to make the quick move back to contention
If the Heat wants to take an expedited path back to contention, they have to be willing to take some gambles. In this case, it’s to trade the heart of their young core (and likely all their future first-round picks) for a player that has the talent to completely revolutionize the franchise.
This is the type of trade that the Heat has been so successful in making in the past. That’s why it’s difficult to imagine that they would suddenly shy away from it now.
In many ways, the Heat has been buying its time for this moment. It’d be shocking to see them hold anything back now. Giannis is the player the Heat has been eyeing for quite some time. Now that he’s available, don’t expect the Heat to blow it all up because of a young player.
Okay, I’m going to try to put the most positive spin on going all in. Again, it’s not necessarily the exact path I would prefer.
So, let’s cross our fingers and say Giannis stays healthy. If so, a starting lineup of Bam, Giannis, possibly Powell and Wiggins, and Mitchell, would be strong, likely at least top 6, maybe top 4. They would obviously have to shore up the bench of Jovic, Gardner, Young, and Dru. Not sure if Keshad will be re-signed or Simone will be retained. We still should have one of Jaquez, Pelle, or Kas, so that’s good. Veterans seeking a ring often come at a discount.
Let’s assume you can be contenders with that group 3-4 years, up until 2029-30. At that point you will have most of your draft picks back, remembering also that due to league rules, we will have our 2027 (or 2028 if Hornets get 27) and 2029 picks. So, whatever happens, I will find something about this team to cheer for.
Thats a very good post. Exactly.
Giannis is Miami means Heat are contenders for several years. One way or another, one or two young players will stay, and others will come, via draft or via g league.
This team will have everything.
top 5 player for 3-5 years gotta do it no brainer
I tried doing the math on a trade for Giannis. Here’s what I think it would take, using 2026-2027 salaries.
Miami Receives: Giannis Antetokounmpo:
$58,456,566 (plus $$62,786,682 player option in 2027-2028) or
4 year/ $275,000,000 extension ($68,750,000 per year)
Milwaukee Receives: Combination of players listed below totalling $58,568,600, plus 3 picks and 3 pick swaps
Starters: Jakucionis, Powell*, Wiggins**, Giannis, Bam
2nd Unit: Young, Gardner, Larsson, Jovic, ?
Reserves: ?, ?, ?, ?, ?,
*If Powell’s contract is extended
**If Wiggins opts in
I wasn’t that high on Swain, or Ament (his description sounds eerily like Jovic). Carr and Johnson would be fine picks, as with Yaxel, Philon, and a few others. Of course, there is a good chance the pick will be part of a trade. Looking forward to getting there and ending the speculation.
johnsons like isiah stewart a roughen every team needs one unless u got wemby
You’re right!
Johnson and Carr both look intriguing. There are a couple of other interesting prospects as well in the first and second rounds. Who knows, maybe players projected to go higher are passed up and are still available when Miami picks at #13 (e.g., Lendeborg, Steinbach, Philon, Ament, Burries, etc.).