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The Miami Heat will be in the spotlight for virtually the entire summer and that also includes Thursday night's NBA Draft. Check below for a few potential options when the Heat pick 26th overall in the first round.
Shabazz Napier, UConn: Team President Pat Riley obviously wants to keep LeBron James in South Beach, and adding Napier would help appease his star player. James made his affinity for the UConn guard publicly known during the NCAA Tournament and Napier is the type of addition that would erase the Heat's issues at backup point guard. With Mario Chalmers an unrestricted free agent heading into the summer, Napier is a home run for Miami --- if he's still on the board.
DeAndre Kane, Iowa State: Some NBA teams may be scared off by the fact that Kane is already 25 years old, but the Heat won't be one of them. Miami's window to win more championships is in the next five years and Kane will be able to immediately give the Heat the size, maturity and swagger that they crave at the lead guard position. At 6-4, Kane can play multiple positions and has the ability to affect a game in different ways. Last year at Iowa State, he averaged 17.1 points, 6.8 rebounds and 5.9 assists while leading the Cyclones to their first ever Big 12 Tournament title under Fred Hoiberg.
Spencer Dinwiddie, Colorado: This talented combo guard would have potentially been a late lottery pick if he didn't tear his ACL in January, but that won't scare Riley. Remember, Miami took a chance on West Virginia's Da'Sean Butler in 2010 after he had a similar injury and if healthy, Dinwiddie is one of the best guards in this draft. Armed with great size at 6-6, the West Coast native can guard multiple positions defensively and plays with a poise and calmness that most guys his age don't exude.
Mitch McGary, Michigan: The 6-10 big man missed most of last season with a back injury but has the size, strength and IQ to have a role on a veteran team in the NBA. McGary isn't going to be a star but fits the mold of a player who can potentially provide insurance for Miami up front if the Heat lose Chris Andersen in free agency. An underrated passer, McGary finishes at a high rate in the paint and would have a field day at the rim as long as Miami's star core remains intact.
Sell the pick: With a pivotal period around the corner in free agency, bypassing the chance to take on any added salary may be a legitimate option here for Miami. Riley proved in the summer of 2010 that he was going to shed as much money off the salary cap as possible prior to the beginning of the free agency period and it wouldn't come as a shock if he took the same route again in 2014.
