Miami Heat: 5 options for pick No. 13 in 2019 NBA Draft
3. Romeo Langford
Once thought to be a top-five pick, Indiana guard Romeo Langford projects to be a dangerous scorer in the pros, which is just what Miami needs. He averaged 16.5 points per game on 44.8 percent shooting from the field and 27.2 percent from 3. He also chipped in 5.4 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game.
Miami was one of the worst offensive teams last year, finishing 26th in points per game, 22nd in field goal percentage and 21st in 3-point percentage. The team’s leading scorer, Josh Richardson, recorded just 16.6 points per game on unimpressive efficiency. Adding Langford can improve the offense. His ability to finish at the rim and in the paint can open up the floor for shooters, and he’s shown an ability to find the open man as he drives.
Drafting Langford would mean the Heat really liked what they saw with Winslow at point guard. Miami doesn’t rely on one sole ball-handler, but there still needs to be a reliable player to run the offense and make decisions on the clutch. It’s possible that Winslow is deemed that guy. The Heat played really well under him. His confidence with the ball looked as good as it ever has. At 6’7″ and 225 pounds, Winslow has the size to drive into the paint, which opens up space for shooters.
It’s also possible that Langford one day takes the reins as the focal point of the offense. He’s shown great ball-handling skills, although he has a habit of taking bad shots and being too ball-dominant. Having good decision-makers around him can conceal these flaws a little bit.
A lot of Langford’s flaws can be patched up once he spends time with an NBA coaching staff. His poor awareness on defense can be alleviated by Spoelstra and his coaching staff. At 6’6″ with a 6’11” wingspan, Langford has the build of a good perimeter defender. It allows him to contest shots well and switch onto taller wing players. Still, he largely lacks in defensive instincts. Don’t expect him to be a lockdown defender.
Another flaw of Langford’s is his shooting from behind the arc. The shooting guard put up a measly 27.2 percent from 3 while making just 1.1 triples per contest. However, there may be a legitimate cause: a torn thumb ligament he suffered in November. He played the whole season dealing with this injury, but he’ll receive surgery for it sometime this offseason. He also missed the NIT with a back injury, so that may have affected his play before then too.
Above all else, Langford likely has the most star potential of anyone not taken in the top 10. That’s just what the Heat need: a star. Team-oriented basketball is great, but in a league where stars dominate, it won’t take you far without great players. Miami has none. Of all the non-top 10 prospects, Langford is probably the most likely to become a consistent All-Star.
Langford is not a guaranteed star by any means, but he has some traits that are working in his favor. His scoring instincts and physical tools are two things that you can’t teach. He can be a good scorer if he cleans up his offensive game and a solid defender if he puts the effort in to. If he and the coaching staff can hone in on his physical gifts, Miami could have a special player on its hands.