Miami Heat 2026 NBA Draft Preview

Marissa LaneJune 10, 20263 Mins read3

Mar 10, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) celebrates with head coach Erik Spoelstra after becoming the NBA's second highest scorer of points in a game with 83 against the Wshington Wizards at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Rhona Wise-Imagn Images

The Miami Heat’s season came to a disappointing end with an overtime loss to the Charlotte Hornets in the first round of the NBA Play-In tournament, closing out with a 43-39 record in the regular season.

It is no secret that the Miami Heat are currently aggressively pursuing Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo after failing to secure him before the trade deadline back in February. With several potential trade packages involving the Heat’s 13th pick, fans could see a draft-day trade involving Giannis, with the Bucks picking in the Heat’s place. Less discussed as part of the deal is whether the Heat would still retain the 41st pick they received as a result of the Terry Rozier controversy.

Miami Heat Draft Picks

Round 1 — No. 13
Round 2 — No. 41 (via Charlotte)

Miami Heat Draft Needs:

The Heat have worked out a handful of players so far, including Kentucky’s Malachi Moreno, Alabama’s Amari Allen, St. John’s Dillon Mitchell, and Virginia Tech’s Tobi Lawal, all of whom are expected to be second-round picks or go undrafted, according to ESPN’s latest mock draft. One of these late-draft picks could be a target for the Heat with their 41st pick. The Miami Heat have not worked out or scheduled any potential first-round picks.

In the event that the Heat don’t trade the 13th pick, there isn’t an obvious need for a particular role on the team. Miami ranked 13th in both offensive and defensive rating among the league, meaning improvement is needed on both sides. With the constant updates to the mock drafts, guards and forwards have been interchanged as draft projections for the Heat.

Miami Heat Draft Targets:

Labaron Philon Jr. — G — Alabama

Alabama’s Labaron Philon Jr. led his team in points, assists, and steals, ending his sophomore season averaging 22.0 points on 50.1% shooting, 3.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 0.2 blocks, and 1.2 steals. The No. 4-seeded Crimson Tide ended their March Madness run in a loss to the No. 1-seeded Michigan Wolverines in the Sweet 16, where Philon Jr. led his team in points (35), rebounds (7), and assists (4).

The Alabama guard showed major improvement in the two seasons he played for the Crimson Tide, more than doubling his points per game from his freshman to sophomore year. Despite his lower free-throw percentage and lack of height, standing at less than 6-foot-3, his reliable playmaking skills and increased shooting efficiency have shown why he has become a high target in the first round. Philon Jr. is a young player who has proven he can adapt quickly and can be easily taught and developed.

The Heat would benefit from Philon Jr.’s offensive push that he gave the Crimson Tide. As a young player who has already shown rapid, dramatic development in his play, he has no ceiling. His playmaking abilities would be critical in smoothing the Heat’s efficiency on the court.

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Cameron Carr — SG/SF — Baylor

Baylor’s Cameron Carr led his team in points and blocks, ending his sophomore season averaging 18.9 points on 49.4% shooting, 5.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.3 blocks, and 0.9 steals. He had a standout year with Baylor after transferring from Tennessee, where he only played 18 games over two seasons.

Carr’s draft value rose with his star performance in the draft combine scrimmages, where he had 30 points and six threes in a single game. ESPN’s named him their highest-ranked player to come out of the combine scrimmages. Although he struggled to produce in his early years with Tennessee, Carr turned a new leaf at Baylor, showcasing his explosiveness and offensive drive. Through his redshirt sophomore year and the combine, he has shown why teams should overlook him in this draft.

Cameron Carr would bring the kind of explosiveness and passion the Heat need to reach greatness. He has shown he’s NBA-ready and is excited to prove himself in the big leagues. He’s a player who would adapt well to the change of going pro, given how quickly he adapted to Baylor.

Yaxel Lendeborg — F — Michigan

Michigan’s Yaxel Lendeborg led his team in points and steals, ending his senior season averaging 15.1 points on 51.5% shooting, 6.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.2 blocks, and 1.1 steals. The 24-year-old previously spent two years with the UAB Blazers before joining the Wolverines for his final college season. Although his age is a major factor heading into the draft, his impact in Michigan’s NCAA title run has made him stand out in draft projections.

The Michigan Wolverines ended their March Madness run with a championship victory over the UConn Huskies. Lendeborg had his biggest performances in the second round versus Saint Louis where he led the game in points (25), in the Sweet 16 game versus Alabama where he led his team in points (23), rebounds (12), and assists (7), and in the Elite 8 matchup versus Tennessee where he led the game in points (27) and tied for the lead in rebounds (7).

Although Lendeborg is still fairly new to organized basketball, his versatility and drive have shown that his age doesn’t determine his ceiling. He has quickly developed over the few years he has played, showing his ability to play at an elite level with the same production as players who have far more experience than him. Lendeborg would bring customizable attributes and potential that could the Heat’s strong developmental coaching staff could instantly tap into.

Written by

Marissa Lane - Heat Lead

Miami Heat writer for The Lead. Marissa is a first-year Digital Cinema & Filmmaking major with a minor in Sports Broadcasting & Media at Pace University. Previously, she was recently elected to become the Secretary, Copy Editor and Sports Editor for The Pace Chronicle, Pace University's student newspaper. She also works in Video Production for Pace University Athletics.