MIAMI (AP) -July 1 is the first priority for the Miami Heat this offseason, of course.
The calendar would make them think otherwise.
One week before the start of the most highly awaited free agent period in NBA history, where the Heat will try to keep Dwyane Wade plus commit tens of millions of dollars to lure players who’ll help him chase more championships, comes the not-so-small matter of the draft – in which the Heat have four selections.
They could seek bargains, trade any or all their picks for more coveted salary-cap space to go shopping with after the free-agent window opens July 1, or the most likely scenario, that being a combination of making some deals while keying on one or two players the Heat brass believe could help them soon, plus meet with Wade’s approval.
first, see how that works out, and then have the draft and try to fill in the gaps. But it doesn’t work that way. I think we focus our attention on the players that are available to us, get them in correct order, guys that we liked and go from there.”
Kammerer said the Heat “really like” 15 players in the draft. Problem is, Miami has the 18th pick in the opening round.
There have been talks about trading the No. 18 selection, and more teams will enter into those conversations as Thursday night draws nearer, since just about every team gets involved in chats about draft-night swaps. Yet Miami isn’t locked into trading that or any other pick, Kammerer insisted.
“We’re hoping one of those 15 guys is there at 18,” Kammerer said. “In a scenario that we would like to have happen, that’s what we would prefer come draft night. If one of those 15 that we’ve really kind of earmarked is the guy that we really like, then we’ll feel really fortunate and we’re going to add a player that we’re all excited about.”
And if not?
Then the Heat could either take the best-available player – which has happened in the past, Kammerer said – or perhaps that’s when team president Pat Riley decides to make a deal.
Miami also holds the No. 41, 42 and 48 picks.
ayer, or if we feel like we don’t have a second-rounder next year and we can defer one, then I think that’s a strong possibility. But at this point … we don’t really know how the chips are going to fall.”
Miami has plenty of roster spots to fill because many players off last year’s team could become free agents, and possible targets include Kentucky point guard Eric Bledsoe and Florida State center Solomon Alabi.
“We’ll go with who we think is the best player, who we think has the best chance to succeed in the NBA and make a choice from there,” Kammerer said, offering no hints on who the No. 18 choice could be. “Now if there’s players that we think are pretty similar, if one fits a need and one doesn’t, I think we’ll make some slight adjustments. But I think overall, we will try to have our order there. If there’s a player we’ll clearly like better, that’s the move we’ll make.”
That’s what worked in 2003.
That year, when the Heat held the No. 5 pick, they had plenty of needs. Shooting guard wasn’t one of them. Big man and point guard were the priorities, but when their turn came around, the Heat surprised more than a few people around the NBA by choosing Wade.
It only turned out to be the smartest move in Heat history. Wade led Miami to the NBA title in 2006, has cemented himself as one of the very best players on the planet, and now could be on the cusp of a signing a deal worth more than $125 million – the biggest priority the Heat have this summer.
So yes, July 1 is the big day for the Heat.
June 24, though, isn’t one they’re ignoring.
“There’s always a few surprises,” Kammerer said.
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