Miami Heat: 6 Most Interesting Late Lottery Draft Options
By Frank Urbina
5. T.J. Leaf, PF, UCLA
We go from a best-player-available approach to drafting based on need; T.J. Leaf is the perfect example of the other end of the spectrum.
Pundits have contrasting opinions on how high the UCLA power forward will go. Draft Express has him slotted as the 24th overall pick, Ricky O’Donnell of SB Nation has him 23rd, while ESPN’s Chad Ford actually predicts Leaf being drafted 14th, by Miami.
Miami Heat
Taking him in the middle of the first may be a reach, but there’s no denying Leaf’s talent.
In his lone year of college basketball, he averaged 16.3 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.1 blocks. He was extremely efficient in his scoring, as well — Leaf shot 61.7 percent from the floor and 46.6 percent from three (though on just 1.7 attempts per game).
He is one of the best scoring big men in the draft, who can distribute while still taking care of the ball (only 1.5 turnovers on average), and provide passable rim protection on the other end. The issue with Leaf is his lack of upside: He’s 6-foot-10, with an all-too-ordinary 6-foot-11 wingspan.
Moreover, though he occasionally surprises opponents with high-flying dunks, he likely won’t test that well as an athlete at the NBA Combine.
A player limited athletically with just okay size, Leaf will have to prove over the coming months that his skill is enough to warrant a pick late in the lottery.
What’s certain is that Riley and the Heat’s staff will bring him in for private workouts before making their selection. If they come away with the belief that Leaf’s shooting and overall offensive versatility will translate, he could very well be the guy at 14.