3 Potential NBA Draft missteps that are completely undefendable
The Miami Heat not taking a high-ceiling player
The Miami Heat, with the No. 18 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, had the chance to take advantage of a strong collection of players that had fallen to them. Instead, of taking a flier on a high-ceiling prospect, the Heat went the safe route and drafted Jaime Jaquez Jr. out of UCLA.
Off the top of my head, a few players that (as a Heat fan) I would’ve much rather they’d taken at No. 18 over Jaquez: Cam Whitmore, Brandin Podziemski, Nick Smith Jr., Olivier-Maxence Prosper, or even Dariq Whitehead.
Instead, of taking a big swing with this pick, Miami decided to take a “safe” player. That said, I’m not even sure how “safe” a pick Jaquez is. There’s no guarantee that his game will translate to the NBA. He’s undersized, not the best athlete, and a streaky (at best) shooter.
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Still, there’s a chance this pic does end up working out for the Heat. My gripe with this decision isn’t about that. With the way the board fell to them at No. 18, the Heat had the opportunity to take a high-ceiling player. With one of the best developmental systems in the league, it was a crime that the Heat didn’t.