2017 NBA Mock Draft: Post-Lottery edition

SG. Duke. Luke Kennard. 14. player. 110. <p>Fourteenth is a little high for Kennard, but I love the idea of him replacing Dion Waiters as the sixth man of the Heat. Waiters can be a free agent this summer and will likely look for a long-term contract. This opens the way for Kennard, a silky, smooth scorer, who can make some nice passes at times too. Kennard and Erik Spoelstra would also be a great match together, giving Miami a guy ready to contribute right away.</p> <p>Kennard is going to struggle against NBA length, which is why he seems best suited for a bench role. That doesn’t mean he can’t play a big role off of it, though. Kennard could run the offense off the bench as a smooth operator in the pick-and-roll, and a lights out shooter. The Heat could go small with Winslow at the 4 and Tyler Johnson potentially running the point. Kennard could even get some time with the starters because of his ability to knock down the three.</p> <p>While he’s not the athlete that Gordon Hayward is, thus challenging his defensive ceiling, there’s no reason he can’t be a poor man’s version of Hayward on offense. Being a lefty will benefit Kennard, as he gets craftier. Additionally, he already has made use of hesitation dribbling, which he’ll need to add to at the next level. Miami will be hoping one of the 13 players already selected drops, but Kennard wouldn’t be a bad consolation prize at all.</p>