Ira Winderman: An enticing and diverse menu awaits Heat at No. 15 in NBA draft

MIAMI — After weeks, arguably months or even years, of combing through the possibilities of this coming week’s NBA draft, the process stands as a process of elimination for the Miami Heat.

But with the No. 15 pick (at least for now) in Wednesday night’s first round at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, it also stands as a process of being eliminated.

Because in refusing to be bad enough to draft higher, the Heat again find themselves manning middle ground, just as they did when they selected Bam Adebayo at No. 14 in 2017, Tyler Herro at No. 13 in 2019 and Jaime Jaquez Jr, last year at No. 18.

That means without trading up into the lottery range, something the Heat have never done in their 36 seasons (their highest trade up was for Alec Kessler at No. 12 in 1990, when the lottery was 11 teams deep), it becomes a case of what likely won’t be available for consideration.

To a degree, the Heat already are aware, based on those who have declined workouts with the team.

In addition, there already appears to be a consensus regarding the Heat’s no-draft (at least at No. 15) list, based on the latest mock drafts offered by ESPN, The Ringer and The Athletic.

Going by those boards, six prospects projected to almost assuredly be gone among the Top 10 are:

– French big man Zaccharie Risacher

– Australian big man Alex Sarr.

– UConn center Donovan Clingan

– Kentucky guard Reed Sheppard

– UConn guard Stephon Castle

– Tennessee wing Dalton Knecht

Beyond those six, mentioned either in the top 10 or close to the top 10 in the aforementioned projections are:

– G League wing Matas Buzelis

– Providence guard Devin Carter

– French forward Tidjane Salaun

– Kentucky guard Rob Dillingham

– Serbian guard Nikola Topic

– Colorado wing Cody Williams

– G League guard Ron Holland

Of those latter seven, a slip to the Heat, or beyond, certainly is within the realm, based on need and the perceptions of others.

In that case, it could be as simple as catch a falling star, as was the case with the Heat’s moves at No. 10 to Caron Butler in 2002 and Justise Winslow in 2015.

But for all the consternation of this being a down year for the draft, which it assuredly is at the top, a case could be made for No. 15 being somewhat of a sweet spot if the goal is a contributor in the mold of Jaquez last year or a player with upside for development who could prove essential considering the Heat already have dealt two of their next four first-round picks.

So who logically could be next for the Heat if the aforementioned 13 are off the board?

It actually is an enticing and diverse menu, particularly if the Heat maintain the party line of the best available prospect.

Among the options, baring a late surge by one or more up the board past the Heat’s pick, are:

Duke guard Jared McCain: A 6-foot-2 undersized lights-out shooter who offers passable playmaking and competitive defense for his size. Such a pick would allow the Heat to expand what has become a too two-centric offense

Purdue center Zach Edey: The type of big, big body the Heat have lacked arguably since the Shaquille O’Neal era. While adjustments would be necessary with a 7-4, 300-pound center, Erik Spoelstra generally seems up for any challenge.

Colorado wing Tristan de Silva: Well could stand as the most polished Heat option at No. 15 among … players with limited athleticism. At 6-8, has a feel for the game that ultimately could compensate.

Southern Cal guard Isaiah Collier: The 6-3 guard at one point was projected to be among the top of this class. The type of athlete the Heat have lacked, but there are questions beyond the attack game.

Pittsburgh guard Bub Carrington: The 6-foot-4 guard has been rising in projections in recent weeks, but also might prove too similar to Herro for a selection in the middle of the first round. That’s if Herro … is still around.

Baylor center Yves Missi: At 6-11, an energetic blend of rim running on offense and paint protection on defense. The question is whether No. 15 is too high for a change-of-pace prospect.

Marquette guard Tyler Kolek: Whether compared to the second-coming of Goran Dragic, T.J. McConnell or Jalen Brunson, you get the picture. Solid with the ball in his hands and best in attack mode. A question is whether the frame can hold up.

Baylor wing Ja’Kobe Walter: A feisty two-way backcourt presence with, at 6-5, a bit more size than Terry Rozier. Not necessarily an upside choice, but amply already weaponized.

Indiana center Kel’el Ware: An athlete and shooter at nearly 7 feet, but also lacking a Heat-like motor. That could prove to be an ultimate red flag. Then there is a question of whether he could play alongside Adebayo or solely when Adebayo is out.

Dayton forward DaRon Holmes: Agile 6-9 prospect who only now is fully growing into his body. Considering the level of college competition, this likely would be more of a forward-thinking selection.

IN THE LANE

THE VOICE: Seeming ubiquitous recently as an NBA studio presence, amid appearances on NBA TV and ESPN, former Heat captain Udonis Haslem took umbrage on ESPN’s First Take when he felt the Heat and coach Erik Spoelstra were getting short shrift as a possible impending threat to the championship Boston Celtics. “Duncan Robinson. Terry Rozier. Jimmy Butler. A young superstar in Bam Adebayo. A young superstar in Tyler Herro. Jaime Jaquez Jr., Niko Jovic. Why don’t nobody ever say the Miami Heat?” Haslem said. “The last four or five years, it’s come down to the Miami Heat or the Boston Celtics. Milwaukee stuck themselves in there, but it’s come down to the Miami Heat or the Boston Celtics. And we got La Spoelstra Nostra.” While titled as the Heat’s vice president of basketball development, Haslem is not involved on the team’s personnel side. “A healthy Miami Heat is the team that can challenge Boston, because we’ve done it the last four out of five years,” Haslem said. “I’m sick of this, man. This got to stop, the Heat hate got to stop.”

PLUS ONE: As if his plate already isn’t full a year into retirement, Haslem this past week also was named  commissioner of the Miami Pro League, the summer run that has attracted numerous Heat players over the years, as well as a variety of NBA players who spend time in South Florida during the offseason. “As commissioner, Udonis Haslem will oversee the strategic direction and day-to-day operations of the Miami Pro League, further solidifying its position as a beacon of basketball talent and community engagement in the Miami area,” the league, which opens July 3, said in a release.

SECOND THOUGHT: In the midst of pushing past the Heat 4-1 in the opening round of the playoffs, Celtics forward Jayson Tatum spoke of the Heat steeling Boston for what was ahead, noting, “I wanted to play Miami in the sense that, maybe last year, playing against Atlanta, we might have relaxed a little bit. Knowing the history . . .  with Miami, how hard they play, how well-coached they are, that, for a first-round matchup, regardless of the seed, that we were going to have to be ready to play and be ready to fight.” Then came the Celtics’ championship parade on Friday, which was preceded by a Q&A session. That included Celtics television analyst Brian Scalabrine asking Tatum of the Celtics celebratory trip days earlier to Miami, “You guys have been on a lot of trips to Miami, a lot of hard-fought trips to Miami. Was this one a little sweeter taking that trip down?” To which Tatum simply replied with a smile, “They always easy.” The Heat went 0-4 at home against Boston this season, when counting two playoff losses. Counting the 2023 playoffs, the Heat have lost their last six home games to the Celtics.

SO . . . OF COURSE: So there, of course, on cue, was Haslem on ESPN’s SportsCenter for reaction to Tatum,. “I think he’s still drunk from the party,” Haslem said. “He’s gotta still be tipsy from the party. There’s no way he could believe that. It’s OK. That’s what he’s supposed to say. Congratulations to the Boston Celtics. I ain’t gonna be no hater; we understand they’re the champs. We’re going to get fully healthy, then we’ll see what happens.”

NUMBER

4. First-round picks from the University of Miami in the NBA draft’s common era (since 1996): Tim James (1999), John Salmons (2002), Shane Larkin (2013) and Lonnie Walker IV (2018). With Hurricanes wing Kyshawn George on Wednesday night poised to become the fifth.