Heat schedule interview with Draft prospect Tre Jones

Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reported earlier today that the Miami Heat have scheduled an interview with former Duke guard Tre Jones.

Jones was the ACC Defensive Player of the Year and could help Miami’s point-of-attack issues. Now, during a press conference after the Heat picked Tyler Herro in the NBA Draft last year, Pat Riley joked that he was “getting rid of the Duke concept,” only drafting Kentucky players.

Another defensive-minded point guard, Malachi Flynn, has also found himself linked to the Heat recently. Selecting a guard in the NBA Draft could signal that the Heat plan to move on from Kendrick Nunn, who struggled mightily in the bubble after a stellar rookie season. Miami will plan to re-sign Goran Dragic and also will expect to give Herro more ball-handling duties.

But on the other hand, perhaps whoever Miami comes away from Draft night with won’t have a guaranteed rotation spot going into the season. With the 2020-21 NBA season potentially starting just before Christmas, rookies won’t have the benefit of a summer league to work with their teams’ training staff and improve.