Looking ahead to this weeks NBA Draft, the Miami Heat will likely be looking for some immediate help. This will prove to be extremely difficult considering Miami has only one pick, and it comes at #31 overall (the first pick of the 2nd round). The obvious areas of need are at point guard and center, with the Heat being set at the 3 interior positions.
Dwyane Wade and LeBron James will handle the 2 and the 3 with Mike Miller, though not yet a fan favorite (and I stress the word ‘yet'), helping out off the bench. Chris Bosh and Udonis Haslem give Miami great depth at power forward so those positions are set, and will be for years to come. While it's likely that Pat Riley will address the teams needs through free agency, there is still value in the draft.
Point guards Mario Chalmers and Mike Bibby are unrestricted free agents, though I expect the Heat to bring back Chalmers as Riley is a fan of his and he took great strides as a knockdown shooter during the playoffs. He also handles the ball well and can stretch the floor so don't be surprised to see Rio back in the Miami backcourt next season.
On the other hand, Mike Bibby is getting a little long in the tooth and is a defensive liability, so I'm not so sure about his return. I wouldn't be totally against it due to the veteran leadership role and his past ability to hit the outside shot, but the way it completely disappeared in the late stages of the season is very troubling.
At center the Heat has Joel Anthony locked up for the next several years, and the way he has improved every year since coming to Miami has been a treat to watch. There is no reason to think that he won't continue on his path of progression on both ends of the floor. Miami also has youngster Dexter Pittman down low and he could very well be a long term solution at center but is still a bit rough around the edges.
I'd be very surprised to see the Heat draft a position other then point guard or center, and I believe that they will go with the smaller position due to the greater options that will likely be available when they are on the clock. I'll wrap this up with a few point guard options that I think could be there for Miami to take with the 31st pick.
Reggie Jackson, PG-SG, Boston College. He still has some work to do as a distributer, but with D-Wade and LeBron handling the ball as much as they do, an athletic player with an improving shot such as Jackson could fit in well.
Shelvin Mack, PG, Butler. At 6'3", 210, Mack has an NBA type body and the shooting skills to match. He is a solid ball handler and is quick off the dribble, though his overall speed isn't great. Still, he has the skill set to fit right in with Miami's players and offensive scheme.
Nolan Smith, PG, Duke. Showed great leadership qualities at Duke and matured greatly as an offensive quarterback. His passing ability is great, though he is a bit turnover prone when handing the ball. However he is strong when driving the lane and has a very high ceiling.