Miami Heat: 5 options for pick No. 13 in 2019 NBA Draft
2. Bol Bol
Bol Bol, the son of former NBA center Manute Bol, played only nine games in his collegiate career. At Oregon, he averaged 21.0 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.7 blocks and 1.0 assists per game on 56.1 percent shooting from the field and 52.0 percent shooting from 3-point range.
Like his father, Bol is a freak of nature, standing 7’2″ with a 7’7″ wingspan (not quite as big as Manute Bol’s 7’7 “height and 8’6″ wingspan). Unlike his father, Bol has a fantastic offensive game. He can stretch his shot all the way out to the 3-point arc while also being able to finish lobs with ease.
He could also be a monster defensively. He has a knack for blocking shots inside, but could be a skilled blocker of jump shots too. His feet are quick and he moves more like a forward. He’ll get pushed around by bigger centers that post up and won’t be able to stick with quick guards, but other than that, he could be a solid defender in his first year. Especially as he gains experience, he could be a monster defensively.
The main concern with Bol is how his body will hold up in the pros. Although he’s clearly a talented player, he weighs just 235 pounds. This is less than most current seven-footers. To have to adjust to a faster and stronger game with such a slender body is going to be challenging, to put it lightly. Just about every player adds weight throughout his career, but Bol will have to be very smart about how he approaches it.
His potential is very much attributed to his quickness and agility. Adding too much weight could compromise some of that. NBA trainers are obviously very smart and will monitor his growth diligently, but it’s more complicated with Bol than other, normal-sized prospects. He already dealt with a stress fracture in his foot that sidelined him for the vast majority of last season. His long-term health is a legitimate concern.
Still, Bol has shown to be a tremendous talent. His versatility would benefit Miami greatly. His ability to space the floor would greatly benefit the Heat’s offense, which was one of the worst 3-point shooting offenses last season. His quickness and length would make him a great addition to their defense, which was already strong. Bol can also contribute to Miami’s strong rebounding (10th in rebounds per game last year).
Putting him at power forward would be ideal due to his slender physique. Adebayo and Whiteside can be physical down low, allowing Bol to guard forwards. It will be more of the same on offense, as Bol could be a solid spot-up shooter, which Miami certainly needs.
Bol is one of the biggest boom-or-bust prospects in the draft. His ceiling is high, but his floor may be just as low. Drafting him is a gamble, and the starless Miami should consider taking the bait on his star potential.