The Miami Heat officially landed the No. 13 selection in next month's draft following a mediocre season. There are expected to be notable names available at that point given this is a steep draft class.
Bleacher Report released an article following the confirmation of the draft lottery and gave every team three players to target. The Heat's first target is Baylor Bears guard Cameron Carr.
"The Heat weren't overloaded with perimeter scoring as it was, and now they could be looking at a future without either Norman Powell (unrestricted free agent) or Tyler Herro (extension-eligible)," the article added. "Carr could be an interesting way to attack this need. He's a fiery outside shooter with enough bounce to finish at the rim, and he uses that athleticism to make plays defensively, too."
Baylor had a rather disappointing season, unlike the school's recent stretch of strong campaigns, but Carr stood out. The guard averaged 19.2 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists while shooting 51 percent from the field and 39.4 percent from three-point range. Carr was rated as a four-star recruit in the class of 2023 ESPN recruitment rankings and was viewed as the 91st best prospect in the nation.
The second player mentioned is Alabama Crimson Tide guard Labaron Philon Jr.
"If Miami is in the market for a shot-creator, then Philon might be the top target here," the article added. "He may not last this long, but if he does, it's easy to see the Heat coveting his slithery creation, quantity-plus-quality shooting and willingness to involve his teammates."
Philon led the Crimson Tide to a strong season and averaged the 12th most points in the nation as a sophomore. Alabama finished the regular season inside the AP Top 25 rankings at No. 18 with a 23-9 record before clawing their way to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament. The guard averaged 22 points, 3.5 rebounds and five assists while shooting 50.1 percent from the field and 39.9 percent from three-point range. Philon was viewed as a four-star recruit in the class of 2024 ESPN recruitment rankings. He was the No. 32 ranked prospect in the nation.
The final player recommended as a target is Washington Huskies center Hannes Steinbach.
"Heat coach Erik Spoelstra just doesn't seem like the biggest Kel'el Ware believer, so Miami might have to get a more reliable center," the article concluded. "That's kind of the sales pitch with Steinbach—nothing super flashy or exciting, but consistent activity underneath and constant energy."
Steinbach was the leading man for Huskies throughout their lackluster season, although he was a bright spot. Washington finished 12th in the Big Ten standings with a a 16-17 overall record and a 7-13 record in conference play. Steinbach averaged 18.5 points, 11.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists while shooting 57.7 percent from the field and 34 percent from three-point range. Steinbach was not ranked in the class of 2025 ESPN recruitment rankings. However, he was viewed as a four-star recruit in the 24/7 Sports database.
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