We are nearing the one month mark until the 2026 NBA Draft.
The two-day spectacle will begin on June 23. The Heat’s worst-kept secret is that they will be aggressively pursuing Giannis Antetokounmpo, who they could not secure ahead of the trade deadline. For now, they will have two picks — Nos. 13 and 41 overall — marking the third time since 2015 that they had multiple selections in a given draft.
Recall that it did not work out Kasparas Jakucionis, yet they drafted him No. 20 overall last June. But they also viewed him as a top-8 prospect — as did I — where his falling to 20 wasn’t realistic until the night transpired.
There will be more clarity whether or not Miami will be drafting for themselves — or another team (Bucks) — on draft night. But for now, we will be tracking which players have reportedly worked out with the Heat.
(Editor’s Note: Initial information courtesy of Hoopshype unless otherwise specified.)
Wednesday, May 20:
- Malachi Moreno, C, Kentucky (according to Five Reasons Sports’ Greg Sylvander)
Friday, May 22:
- Amari Allen, F, Alabama (per Sylvander)
Wednesday, May 27:
- Dillon Mitchell, F, St. John’s
Saturday, May 30:
- Tobi Lawal, F, Virginia Tech (per Sylvander)
***
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Thats a copy of Kelly O.
What about all the other guys in 10-20 range?
From my bit of research, they seem to be looking at second round and undrafted players.
Interestingly, all 3 (Allen, Mitchell, Lawal) are athletic 6’8” sf who can possibly play small ball pf. Guys who might be your 11-14 players or G league prospects.
Moreno and Allen decided to return to school. Mitchell and Lawal are projected to be late second round picks (48-60).
Riley appears to have written off the #13 pick because he intends to use it and possibly others to harpoon a whale.
Either that or he is sandbagging so other teams do not know his true draft targets. Maybe like last year with Jakucionis, he’s hoping that targeted players are undervalued and drop to #13 and #41.
Why is it today’s date?
They updated who the Heat worked out. Otherwise, nada.
Good riddance once again to the future hall of fame player Harden. Another season of big money with no results.
Biggest choker of all time, and ppl like kd and pat bev got audacity to say harden better then wade LOL.
People like him and KD are mostly sizzle and no steak.
put donovan in there to
it looks like hes missing on purpose in the playoffs.i know he isnt but hes a first ballot hof reg season player but come the playoffs something happens to him.atkinson blew this series in game one he needs to get fired asap unless cleve has family biz
look at what the cavs did to us and what the knicks are doing to the cavs..jeez if we played the knicks we might have lost by 50pts a game.but yet we are one greek away from being right back.its like a franchise qb.the pats were 4 13 drafted drake maye last year 13 -4.theres something about getting a franchise qb and a ss..bam adebayos dont move the needle.all we need is a ss and build from there.knicks got brunson and just built it up.ps please dont add any cavs btw bunch of quitters
Knicks could change the recent narrative that a team needs to tank for high picks in order to be a contender. All 5 NYK starters were acquired via free agency or trade. Only two rotation players on the team were drafted by NYK, both in 2nd round
Brunson drafted #33, signed via free agency 2022
Bridges #10, trade
Hart #30, trade
Anunoby #23, trade for Quickley (#25) and Barrett (#3)
KAT #1, trade for Randle (2019 FA) and Divincenzo (2023 FA)
McBride #36
Robinson #36
Shamet #26, signed to NYK G League team 2024
Alvarado undrafted
Brunson signing grade from 2022
As a team that won just 37 games and has no clear path to winning a playoff series, the Knicks spent the past week moving draft picks and clearing cap space to treat him—a 25-year-old who probably won’t ever make an All-Star team—as their top priority.
Acquiring Brunson is of course not the end of the world. He’s a nice player who made a notable jump last season. But taking into account the cost, who else is on the Knicks and the lengths they went to obtain him (keeping the No. 11 pick in the draft would’ve been nice!), don’t be surprised if this pursuit ultimately backfires.
GRADE: C
https://www.si.com/nba/2022/07/01/jalen-brunson-new-york-knicks-nba-free-agency-grades
The first year with Brunson they won 47 games and a playoff series, and Brunson with NYK is a 3x All-Star, 3x All-NBA
Knicks could change the recent narrative that a team needs to tank for high picks in order to be a contender. All 5 NYK starters were acquired via free agency or trade. Only two rotation players on the team were drafted by NYK, both in 2nd round
From 2015-2025, New York had 11 first round picks (6 lottery) and 11 second round picks (22 picks total). Some of the second round selections made by the Knicks were Mitchell Robinson, Immanuel Quickly, Miles McBride and Ajay Mitchell. The Knicks accumulated many of those picks by missing the playoffs 6 times in 7 seasons between 2015-2022.
Conversely, from 2015-2025, Miami had 8 first round picks (3 lottery) and 3 second round picks (11 picks total). The second round picks were (Josh Richardson in 2015. Bol Bol in 2019 and Pelle Larson in 2024). The Heat missed the playoffs only 3 times from 2015-2025.
The New York Knicks built their current championship-caliber roster over a period of several years, primarily through shrewd, asset-driven trades and aggressive free-agency signings, rather than relying heavily on top draft picks. However, in order to accumulate enough capital (draft picks and players) to accomplish those trades, they tanked in 6 of 7 seasons prior to 2022.
Establishing the Foundation (2020): Team President Leon Rose and former Head Coach Tom Thibodeau were brought in to forge a gritty, defense-first identity. They constructed their roster through a calculated, step-by-step approach:.
Again, in order for the Knicks to accumulate enough capital (draft picks and players) to accomplish the preceding trades, they tanked in 6 of 7 seasons prior to 2022.
Every team builds through the draft to some extent. I wouldn’t say NYK is a good example of a team tanking and becoming a contender like San Antonio with consecutive high draft picks.
NYK’s biggest moves to build their current team were through free agency with Randle and Brunson, were not regarded highly at the time.
This was The Athletic’s grade of the Randle signing from 2019 (again totally wrong, like with the Brunson grade):
“With the Knicks over the next two years (I’d be shocked if he got that third year picked up), he still won’t be playing meaningful basketball. They’re going to need to circle the wagons for free agency over the next year or two since their top plans didn’t shake out well. They’ll hope they receive more lottery luck in securing the top prospect in the draft unlike what happened this year. And they’ll give the ball to Randle, let him go bull in a tea cup shop, and put up some impressive numbers on a destitute win column.
Randle isn’t Mr. Right, but he might be Mr. Right Now until he proves he can be a part of winning basketball. Or maybe I should say until he gets a little more luck in his career with the teams he plays on, and is given a chance to play on a team that matters. Somebody has to score and somebody has to get paid. Usually, the ceiling is the roof. This time, the salary floor is the roof.
Grade: D+“
I do agree that New York has made several risky trades and free agent signings that have worked out for the best over the years. The Knicks have also made good draft picks (including shrewd second round picks). The capital they accumulated over the lottery years allowed them to make trades such as the one for Bridges (5 picks) and incremental overall progress in their rebuild.
NY has made the most of their draft picks, trades and free agent signings while Miami has not. Instead, Arisons and Riley have settled for marginal success/ mediocrity
I think our path to success can be similar to Knicks, even with less draft picks. But the only true way I see it working for us theoretical is getting a true number 1 Giannis will cost too much, so I would go with kawhi, I still think he has #1 option left in the tank. But we would have to trade wiggy or Jaquez to along with package of herro and jovic. I’ll use wiggy for the example. Then resign powell for a 2 year deal, so he can be 2nd scoring option. Bam will be the 3rd. The lineup would be Davion, powell,kawhi,bam, ware. The bench would be Jaquez,pelle,jaku, 1st or 2nd draft pick to get a big, sign Hardaway for vet min, then still have Myron, and Johnson. In that scenario it won’t cost 3 draft picks to get kawhi. Also I’ll give that team 2 years to reach the finals. If it doesn’t happen then trade away bam to the spurs or okc for 4 or 5 draft pics, plus a good young 2 way player, and get whatever u can for kawhi,and powell.
After observing the quality of the players in the Eastern and Western conference finals, it is very obvious to me that the Heat is a long way from competing at that level. We are gaslighting ourselves if we choose to believe there is a single silver bullet (Giannis, Kahwi, Moranr, Mitchell, etc.,) that will turn a 10th place team into a top contender. Giving up 3-4 of Miami’s legitimate rotation players (plus multiple draft picks/pick swaps) will not cure what ails the team.
Miami first needs to build a strong supporting cast, add a couple of lottery picks, reduce overall costs, then recruit a free agent ss (or two). Miami needs time to develop its current young players and any new players they may acquire via drafts and trades. That transition will not happen overnight.
Now is the time for patience. It is a time to avoid impulsive decisions that may negatively impact the team’s long-term goals and strategies for success. If management mishandles this situation, Miami fans will suffer the consequences for years to come.
“Offense sells tickets. Defense wins championships.”
~ Paul “Bear” Bryant ~
mickey will not do that to many other things to do here plus panthers are becoming just as popular as the heat.u dont live down here its a miami thing lebron.take my word on that
I live down here as well, so nobody has to take your word for it. The Heat has had a shit play-in team for 4 years now, with one miracle run followed by 3 horrible years with one playoff win. And guess what? There are still plenty of people in the stands at the arena. That is not going to change. Get some exciting young players and the interest will increase, not decrease. Get a ss and the interest will be much higher in the short term, but if you don’t win a championship and then you have depleted all your assets, the long term may be worse than things are now. You don’t care, I know that. Yet you keep posting about the OKC Spurs rivalry will last for years. Why? Because both teams went with youth.
the supporting cast is already in place bam dav jjj pelle ware the ss are not.all we need is a ss or two f gap years who wants to waste a year or two or three.ja wants to be here hopefully he can regain his form and get greek or kawhi.,its all about out gming the other teams.we are stuck with a guy living in the past defense wins champ true then why have dunc n ty u think that had something to do with jimmy quitting hell yes.theres no pressure on pat to do anything good.if there was he would have been fired already.same with spobot he could go 0-82 and still have a job.gotta keep the family happy.with this owner /gm coach setup the future looks very bleak to be honest.the family biz was very good for decades i think its time for mickey to cash out and gtfoh
The supporting cast in place now wont all be there if Miami trades for Giannis. Plus, if the Heat gives its picks all away, it won’t be able to build back up through the draft. If it trades away its assets to get picks, they won’t get a return until those picks come up over the next few years.
By then, Giannis will be tired of getting older playing for a mediocre team with no chance of winning a ring and will ask for a trade. Best case scenario, Miami gets a couple of players and draft picks and ends up right back where they are now trying to figure out a way to rebuild, after having wasted a few years.
The reason Miami is stuck with few lottery picks is they usually play just well enough to make the playoffs. The pickings are slimmer the further down the draft you go. In addition, the reason Miami has no second rounders is that Riley gives them away as though they are worth nothing. That’s why Miami is always looking in the trash heaps for unsigned and released players.
Face it, the Heat will not be a true contender until changes are made at the top. Until then, get used to the gaslighting and the mediocrity.
Agreed Mia is more than 1 piece away from contention. Only reason we (delusional Heat fans think otherwise) is because media making it seem like that’s the case.
Also looking at these 4 teams Mia needs talented youth something the team is also lacking. Team should and should’ve started over after they traded Jimmy but selling false hope and promising means more to this organization than actually doing what’s right
ticket$$$ merchandi$e its a biz after all.good investment for the cheap arison$$
to be honest sunman if the heat are competitive im good with that,prefer a ss or two but nobodys beating spurs okc near future anyway unless giannis goes to the knicks.im a sports fan so good competitive games are good enough for me.im looking for 3 hours of entertainment 3 4 times a week.sports is entertainment i dont take it so seriously.sure i want the heat to win it all to be happy for a few minutes.but it wont change my life one iota.
I know it won’t change our lives one bit, but you don’t take it seriously???? Your posts certainly indicate otherwise.
Brunson 29 charges drawn this year (#1 in the NBA). Luka and Reaves also in top 10. Mitchell and Harden both had 0. Charges drawn doesn’t equal good defense but does say something if your best players are leading it
thats interesting.
hockey was better than hoops tonight
History says the winner of game 5 most often wins the series.
how bout the winner of game 7
If there is one
They usually advance.
Haha
okc needs more shtein less chet.
carter bryant is their jovic
these spurs wow i give the nyk a 10% chance of beating either of these teams
HFL said if the Spurs won another game this series, he would not post comments here for all of next season.
im in trobule rc didnt say that though.spurs d incred
Can’t blame a guy for trying
i miss watching ty n dunc d i like offense
what a rivalry this is gonna be for a decade,i can see greek joining nyk to try to take down these 2 super power teams
Cavs are dead in the water. Both Harden and Mitchell somehow always disappeared in PO.
Cavs reminds me of Heat. Full of good, but not great players. At the higher level, of course, but still clearly the team at the end of the road.
Harden should be utilized as a role player, not a co-star. Mitchell should be utilized as a co-star, not main one. That team obviously is missing a star player, exactly as Miami.
NY is playing to its max. I don’t think that they can maintain that level for much longer.
okc will bring them back to earth.it s showing how mediocre the east is.donovans been more dissapointing than beard.donovan doesnt have the it factor the great ones do.okc will romp over nyk.4-1 i predict.if its the spurs nyk might get 2 games
Something like that, yes. I never liked Harden, but Mitchell is also not an elite player.
Harden, after all his PO history, always find another victim to put hopes in him. DM failed 4 or 5 times in Utah, and continue to do so in Cleveland.
There is less then 10 players in NBA, which might be able to deliver a title.
SGA, Wemby, Jokic, Giannis, Cunninham, Tatum, Luka, Curry, Haliburton… thats about it.
I doubt any team without one of those players can win it all.
NYK with Brunson will definitely have a shot, esp. with the injuries to both WCF teams
maybe I m wrong, but no. One of my favourable players in the league, but no.
add brunson to list 4 sure if u have tatum on there gotta add brown still kawhi and prob ant those my friends are your nba ss.w/o one of those players u have no chance for jewelry
I m at 50:50 with Brunson, but I say no. Brown no without Tatum, but Tatum yes without Brown,, Ant no, Kawhi not anymore.
Kawhi? Steph? Maxey?
not any more, yes, not… yet
For Cavs it’s the lack of defense in their backcourt that is their biggest problem. They’re built around a star in Mitchell who doesn’t play defense. Then because Garland was hurt this year and they are already all in with the most expensive payroll, they had to get a Garland replacement at the trade deadline in Harden, which didn’t help their defense.
Both Harden and Mitchell have a career’s worth of not playing defense and not even trying. I thought Mitchell was good in Gm 7 vs DET, but he typically plays only on end of the court. Harden’s defense in the 4Q of Gm 1 this series is the worst defense in a playoff game I’ve ever seen, cost them the game.
brunsons a hard cover besides thompson dont think anybody could stop him james challenged lots of those shots but jb so good dont think anybody else could have done much better 2015
You need to rewatch that 4Q. Harden doesn’t do anything to disrupt Brunsons rhythm and barely moves. He gives up position on every play and lets Brunson get him on his hip and it’s over from there. He doesn’t even contest 3PT shots on perimeter. There are tracking stats that show Harden moves the least on defense of most in the NBA.
If they would pull Harden out of the game, they would win that game.
yeah thats true hes not aggressive enough.but alot of jbs looks he had decent challenges.jbs the best clutch player in nba for me
Mitchell is Bradley Beal 2.0. Chose money over winning that’s why he’s in Cleveland still lmao. Donovan Bradley Beal Mitchell
They are both bad defender, and that 4th qt. Brunson-Harden duel was like cat vs. mouse.
Mitchell is a bad defender, true, but its not only him. The team defense stinks, too. Their coach is bad, and role players mostly average.
As I said, reminds me on Heat, not good enough in every possible way.
I see a lot of differences between the two teams. Heat’s best player is a two way player, Cavs one way, which makes it harder to win.
Cavs tend to quit on games, Heat don’t. That follows I think from the best players – Mitchell and Harden don’t compete on defense and try to shoot 3s to get back into the game, when they miss they have no answers. Vs teams with Bam who will always compete on defense.
I get your point that neither was good enough to be a contender. That can change fast in the NBA, I think Heat are better positioned than Cavs to do that.
Yes, they are. Cleveland needs first to shred salaries, as Boston did last year, which weakens the team.
Heat need to find the right players by trading the wrong ones and picks.
but brunson best player in east
Maybe. I like him.
I m confident that Heat will pick the best player available. There is also a good chance that both picks will be traded.
So there is not much to worry about. In any case, somebody will arrive, a good established player or two good rookies.
Do you see how deep the teams are? Spurs 10 deep and OKCto nab a whale, where does the Heat get its bench/reserves from, the scrap heaps (e.g., undrafted prospects, unsigned free agents and G Leaguers)?
Trades by Miami should not require the Heat to give up draft picks, if at all possible. For example:
P.S. First sentence should read:
Do you see how deep the rotations are? Spurs 10 deep and OKC 11 deep. If Miami gives away young rotation players and multiple draft picks (including this year’s), to nab a whale, where does the Heat get its bench/reserves from, the scrap heaps (e.g., undrafted prospects, unsigned free agents and G Leaguers)?
As usual, this is probably just a smokescreen. Moreno is predicted as a late first to mid second pick. Maybe they’d consider him at 41.
I agree. I think it is part misdirection and part wishful thinking that he will still be around at #41. It could also mean Riley is in discussions with OKC about swapping their 21st pick for a future pick and if he succeeds, consider selecting Moreno with that pick.
I think Miami is in need of a combo SF/PF or PF/C player who can play PF when on the court with Ware and either PF or C when on the court with Bam or small ball C when he is the only big on the floor.
Yaxel Lendeborg is the ideal candidate. He plays combo forward (SF/PF) as well as small-ball center. At 6’9″ and 240 pounds, he possesses the mobility and perimeter skills needed to play on the wing, along with the interior strength and shot-blocking ability to defend multiple positions and serve as an anchor in the paint.
I’m thinking a line-up of Ware, Bam, Lendenborg, Wiggins and Mitchell could be effective. A fourth big can be obtained in trade or selected with the 41st pick. None of Miami’s players or assets would be lost in this scenario. If Miami is also able pull off a trade involving Herro, it could have additional options.
Nice! Kid looks good but of course they’ll show the good clips. Heat looking for a replacement C already in case Ware gets traded?
We don’t need another Kentucky bum like Herro
Pat essentially chose herro over maxey what a whiff
They were in 2 different drafts.
Hahahahahaha!
Precious was selected at #20 over Maxey at #21 in the 2020 draft.
Herro was drafted #13 in 2019 behind players such as Jarrett Culver, Cam Reddish, Cam Johnson, Rui Hachimura and Jaxson Hayes.
Herro is not a bum.
Yeah, wouldn’t want any more Kentucky bums like Shai, AD, Booker, KAT, Murray, Wall, Mashburn, Issel.
dan issel mention that was one rugged looking dude werent his front teeth missing lol
Herro and Moreno don’t compare to those players.