No, that probably won't happen, with coach Erik Spoelstra's preference for small lineups and Jimmy Butler and Terry Rozier contributing factors.
But the fact that it's possible speaks to a fundamental change in the Miami Heat's approach.
The Heat could field a lineup featuring five first-round draft picks this season if they wanted or needed to, but more importantly, all five would be Heat picks.
Kel'el Ware, Bam Adebayo, Nikola Jovic, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Tyler Herro.
With the 15th pick last month out of Indiana University, the Heat have now used their first-round pick in three consecutive years for the first time since they had Caron Butler (10th in 2002), Dwyane Wade (5th in 2003), Dorell Wright (19th in 2004) and Wayne Simien (29th in 2005) four straight years.
Sure, there was a time when having five home-grown first-round draft picks on the court wasn't all that special for the Heat, but it was also a time when winning was a monumental task at the team's inception.
Back then, in the late 80s and early 90s, players like Ronny Seikaly, Kevin Edwards, Glen Rice, Willie Burton, Alec Kessler, Steve Smith, and Harold Minor were drafted in the first round. There was a lot of losing back then.
Then came Pat Riley's era.
For example, the team president once said, “To be honest with you, I'm not the type of guy to get drafted,” but also, “I think it's good to get drafted every two years.”
But this run of first-round success could go beyond merely being good when it comes to first-round flourishes, especially if Ware can replicate his summer play, especially if the team doesn't lose.
Adebayo (No. 14, 2017) is an All-Defensive selection. Herro (No. 13, 2019) is a Sixth Man of the Year. Jovic (No. 27, 2022) is a playoff starter. Jaquez (No. 18, 2023) is an All-Rookie First Team selection. And Ware, naturally with the right kind of prospects, helped lead the team to the Summer League Finals.
The last time the Heat took a first-round draft pick that didn't turn into a permanent contributor or a significant trade asset was Shabazz Napier, the 24th pick in 2014.
Following the departure of Chet Kammerer as the Heat's chief draft executive in 2018, there was concern that the kind of details that led to the selection of Adebayo and countless other productive developmental players would be lost.
“It's always tough when you feel like it's time to hand over command to a younger group who are more qualified to carry out their duties,” Kammerer said at the time.
That's when Adam Simon stepped up to lead the team in draft picks, and the Heat have hardly looked back since, with 2020 selection Precious Achiuwa also being used as a trade piece for Kyle Lowry in 2021 before finding his own NBA foothold.
Speaking about the Heat's position during Summer League, general manager Andy Elisberg said there hasn't been a fundamental change in how they evaluate the draft, but rather they continue to seek to maximize their assets.
“I think picks are always important,” he said in Las Vegas. “I think it depends on what you can do with them and what kind of trades you can make.”
Even when the Heat weren't drafting, Elisberg said using their picks played a key role in the process that led the Heat to the Eastern Conference finals or better in three of the last five years and even before that.
“We sent some draft picks to take a chance on the Big Three,” Elisberg said of Coach Riley's use of LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Wade in free agency in 2010, setting the team on a path to four consecutive NBA Finals appearances and two championships.
“We moved up a couple of picks for Goran,” he said of the 2015 acquisition of Goran Dragic, who led the Heat to the 2020 NBA Finals.
“The move for Jimmy hasn't been finalized yet,” Elisburg said of the first-round pick released in Butler's 2019 sign-and-trade, who has been a driving force behind the team's success the past five seasons.
But it's those recent first-round draft picks that have helped the Heat balance the salary cap with lucrative rookie deals amid tightening luxury tax rules.
“I think there's value in the draft pack, and in this market, in this collective bargaining agreement, it's important to get players at the right level,” Elisberg said, “and it's important to get quality players, so I think we've got to constantly evaluate the opportunities we have and the different deals we can get and utilize the different tools to continue to get better.”
But now, despite ongoing elite scouting, the draft faucet is likely to dry up somewhat, with two of the Heat's next four first-round picks going elsewhere, one acquired in the Butler trade and the other resulting from the acquisition of Rozier from the Charlotte Hornets in January.
But at least now, buoyed by Ware's summer play, they have a solid young roster, including some top juniors and some draft picks.
“Some of the tools are the ability to have players, NBA draft picks and the advantage of seeing what they can do,” Elisberg said of first-round draft picks. First-round picks are more essential now than they were when the franchise launched 38 years ago as Elisberg worked his way up the Heat hierarchy. “First-round draft picks have played a big role in our history.”
In lane
More please: Heat prospects among breakout stars in Summer League Josh Christopher The NBA Commissioner had one request. Adam Silver“It's time to add a couple more teams. NBA, please,” Christopher said. “I know I'm one of the small fish in the ocean, but it's time to add more teams. There's a lot of talent in the G League. Honestly, in my opinion, it's the second best league in the world.” Drafted 24th overall by the Houston Rockets, Christopher has been good enough to thrive in the G League in recent years, but he never had a chance to really get a foothold on one of the league's 30-man rosters until the Heat extended his two-way contract on Thursday. “I'm serious about these expansion teams,” Christopher said. “We need a couple more teams, so that gives the players a chance.” In media comments at Summer League, Silver said, “My media contract isn't done yet, but when it's done, we'll look at expansion.”
Big Chill: Heat coach Summer has worked with Heat prospects in the G League in recent years. Dan Bisacchio Bisacchio said he's a little prepared for South Dakota winters as he takes over as coach of the Heat's G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce. “I'm from Vermont, so I never throw away my winter clothes,” Bisacchio, who has worked for the Heat for the past decade, said of his winter gear. “It's buried somewhere. Probably in a closet. I've got to go look for it. I've got to have some mothballs in there.” Bisacchio elicited a chuckle. Kasib PowellTransferred from Sky Force to Spot On Erik SpoelstraHeat coaching staff. “Coming from New Jersey, I thought I'd experienced some tough winters,” former Heat forward Powell said. “But when you go to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, you know the winters there are like no other. So he's going to realize that as soon as he gets there. Weather-wise, he's going to be in for a brutal awakening.”
Resume: How much do the Indiana Pacers respect the former Heat forward's leadership? James JohnsonLast week's free-agent signing marks the fifth time the Pacers have signed or re-signed Johnson since Sept. 16, 2022. In the process, the Pacers had to waive Johnson in order to comply with the trade. Jordan Nwora, George Hill, Serge Ibaka and Pascal SiakamJohnson, a former tri-captain with the Heat, ended his tenure with the Heat when the team acquired Andre Iguodala and Jae Crowder in a trade on February 6, 2020.
fade away: Former Heat rookie expected to stay overseas for an extended period Kendrick NunnNunn signed a two-year contract extension with Greek league side Panathinaikos in May, but the NBA deadline passed. Nunn won both the Euroleague and Greek league championships last season and was named to the Euroleague first team. He last played in the NBA with the Washington Wizards in the 2022-23 season.
Inside Story: With the NBA mostly in vacation mode right now, the league appears to be working through its first full offseason under the new collective bargaining agreement. The Heat general manager said in a summer league interview on SiriusXM Radio: Andy Elysberg Elisberg said it's about “focusing on what it's allowing.” Sometimes an abstract focus is necessary, Elisberg said. “I look a lot at what other teams around the league are doing,” he said. “I try to focus on what it's allowing. People call it loopholes, but I like to call it expanding the elasticity of what it's allowing.”
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Fifth. Former Heat center led NBA Summer League in rebounds (9.4 in 23.5 minutes per game) in Las Vegas Orlando RobinsonRobinson joined the Houston Rockets' summer roster without a contract. After being released by the Heat prior to the July 15 guarantee deadline, Robinson averaged 14.2 points on .587 field goal percentage and .500 3-point shooting. Robinson effectively lost his roster spot to the Heat after they drafted a 7-foot player. Kelel Ware and, Thomas BryantBut after a strong summer league performance, Robinson signed with the Sacramento Kings last week, playing not far from Fresno State, where he played collegiately.
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