National Basketball Association

Pat Riley says the Miami Heat will try to acquire another draft pick

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

Pat Riley understands that draft picks are a valuable tool for the Miami Heat’s most recent rebuild.

The Miami Heat are known as one of the most stable organizations in the NBA, but team president and former head coach Pat Riley has gone through his share of rebuilds. Here’s that list:

Riley hasn’t always relied on draft picks to acquire new talent, but he knows that it could be Miami’s best chance to get better soon. After not having a pick this past draft, the Heat hold a selection in the upcoming draft. In a Q&A with NBA.com, Riley said he hopes to add yet another pick.

“We have a pick this year. I have intentions, if it’s possible, to try and get another pick. And then we will have room. And so from that standpoint, you start making a plan and formulating what it looks like down the road, but you’re going to have to get some breakthroughs — from Hassan, from Justise, from Tyler, from Josh. And then you’ll see where you go from there.”

Riley has been open about the fact that the Hear are rebuilding, and to do that he’s may be looking to the NBA draft. After striking out on free agents the past couple of summers, it makes sense. Especially when you consider the window of this young Heat team, whose nucleus is between 20 and 24 years old (plus Whiteside at 27). This team is young and needs time to develop, which could mean adding more and more young players to develop alongside of them.

It’s a rebuild unlike what Riley has had to do in the past, but most similar to 2003, when the Heat drafted Dwyane Wade. The team was built around a young core, and had enough assets to trade for O’Neal. Riley would be wise to acquire assets who can either develop into top-level players or become chips for him to make another move.