The Miami Heat turned Thursday's NBA draft into power ball, selecting rugged Kentucky freshman power forward Bam Adebayo with the No. 14 selection.
Among those still on the board when the Heat made their selection were Indiana forward OG Anunoby, Duke forward Harry Giles, North Carolina forward Justin Jackson, Wake Forest forward John Collins, Texas center Jarrett Allen, UCLA forward T.J. Leaf, Australian League guard Terrance Ferguson, SMU forward Semi Ojeleye, Creighton center Justin Patton, UCLA center Ike Anigbogu and Cal forward Ivan Rabb.
Selected directly ahead of the Heat were, Gonzaga center Zach Collins at No. 10 by the Portland Trail Blazers, who traded for that selection with the Sacramento Kings; Kentucky guard Malik Monk at No. 11 by the Charlotte Hornets; Duke guard Luke Kennard, at No. 12 by the Detroit Pistons; and Louisville guard Donovan Mitchell at No. 14 by the Utah Jazz, who traded for that selection with the Denver Nuggets.
The Heat now have the rights to Adebayo for up to four seasons, based on team-option decisions, with a 2017-18 salary of $2.5 million.
With limited resources, the Heat were not able to jump into an active trade market that included the Chicago Bulls dealing forward Jimmy Butler to the Minnesota Timberwolves. That deal came in the wake of former Heat guard Dwyane Wade opting into his $23.8 million salary for the Bulls in 2017-18.
Thursday was particularly significant for the Heat because they lacked a first-round pick last year, with that selection going to the Philadelphia 76ers, to complete the 2010 sign-and-trade agreement for LeBron James, and also likely will be without a 2018 first-round pick, with that selection due to the Phoenix Suns unless it is among the first seven, as the first of two first rounders due from the 2015 acquisition of Goran Dragic.
Of the Heat's previous first-round picks, only Justise Winslow, the No. 10 selection in 2015, remains on the roster. Thursday marked only the third trip to the lottery for the Heat since the 2003 selection of Dwyane Wade, with Michael Beasley taken at No. 2 in 2008.
