Miami Heat: 6 Most Interesting Late Lottery Draft Options

6. Jarrett Allen, C, Texas

Although center isn’t a position of need for the Heat, Jarrett Allen is talented enough for that not to matter. Instead of reaching for a guy who plays a spot you need filled, it’s often more logical to take the best player available. And if he falls to 14, Allen would be just that.

The Texas Longhorns big man enjoyed a solid freshman campaign. He averaged 13.4 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks, while shooting 56.6 percent from the floor and 56.4 percent from the foul line.

Allen definitely needs to improve upon that last number, as well as with his distribution: On the year, the talented center had 26 assists to 84 turnovers.

(Doesn’t he sound a bit like Miami’s current center?)

Much like the player he would be backing up with the Heat, Allen is explosive near the basket, partially thanks to his freakish near-7-foot-6 wingspan. Here’s just a hint of what he can do:

https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/833879686509916160

An elite finisher (shot an astounding 71.1 percent at the hoop) who can protect the paint, and is still just 19, Allen’s potential is sky-high. It wouldn’t be a stretch to say he could even one day blossom into being Whiteside’s replacement.

And considering Willie Reed is due for a payday this offseason, taking the Texas freshman at 14 would immediately give Miami a suitable replacement, without having to overpay or scour free agency to find one.

Finally, and most importantly — though he’s a bit raw — Allen could help Miami right away in year one. For a team with playoff aspirations in 2017-18, that’s what matters most.