The Miami Heat own two selections in the 2026 NBA Draft. What kinds of players should they prioritize? (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
At this current juncture, it appears that Giannis Antetokounmpo will not be a member of the Milwaukee Bucks come draft night. And if he is moved, there’s a chance that he’s on the Miami Heat, almost certainly stripping them of their No. 13 overall selection. Miami would still be making a pick — but for the Milwaukee Bucks.
Until that moment comes — if it does — we will be operating with the assumption that it keeps its pick. The Heat will own two picks — No. 13 and No. 41 — in the 2026 NBA Draft, which is exactly one month away. What should they be prioritizing? Here are three specific archetypes.
A two-way wing (with size):
I could write this entire thing with one common denominator: Size. The Heat need to get bigger on all fronts, especially in their wing room.
Small guards (or wings) who are ball-dominant that play just one end of the floor are becoming obsolete in today’s NBA, as evidenced by Trae Young, James Harden, Collin Sexton and Jordan Clarkson all getting moved for a bag of peanuts over the last year. The list extends far beyond those four.
For the Heat, specifically, Erik Spoelstra typically likes to lean small for more dynamism. That meant that Andrew Wiggins, Simone Fontecchio and, at times, Myron Gardner played the 4. At the very least, Miami needs more size — two-way size — at those positions.
Players who potentially fit that mold: Yaxel Lendeborg, Morez Johnson Jr., Joshua Jefferson, Trevon Brazile
A two-way guard who can drive offense:
The Heat is lacking a primary engine offensively. Miami drafted Kasparas Jakucionis last June. But he’s not a primary engine — he’s an elite table setter capable of organizing an offense.
Davion Mitchell doesn’t quite fit the former either. Miami needs a primary engine to help ease the burden off Bam Adebayo and Co. This is an elite point guard class — especially for two-way guards who can make those around them better. If the Heat can nab one of those players at 13 (they won’t at 41), they’ll be in great shape moving forward.
Players who can potentially fit that mold: Mikel Brown Jr., Kingston Flemings, Brayden Burries, Labaron Philon
A versatile, high-energy backup big:
It’s no secret that Miami needs another big man behind Adebayo and Kel’el Ware. That hole has existed for nearly a full calendar year and it has still yet to be addressed. A versatile big alongside both Adebayo and Ware — one with dribble/pass/shoot capabilities that can help anchor a back-line in the second unit — should be a priority.
The caveat, however, is that the big man depth in this class is thinning out fairly quickly. The Heat need a high-energy big off the bench, point blank. We’ll see who all stays ahead of the May 27 early entrant deadline, but it may be best for the Heat to wait until free agency begins before exploring this option.
Players who can potentially fit that mold: Chris Cenac Jr., Morez Johnson Jr., Aday Mara, Zuby Ejiofor, Maliq Brown
Which players do you think the Miami Heat should prioritize ahead of the 2026 NBA Draft? Let us know in the comments below!
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