27. Miami Heat – Nikola Jovic, Serbia
In one of the best name-game moments, the Miami Heat and Denver Nuggets faced off in the NBA Finals, allowing plenty of jokes to be made comparing Nikola Jokic and Nikola Jovic; the first is a two-time MVP, while the second was a very raw first-round rookie.
Rebound totals for 5 NBA Finals MVPs and the people with the same name as them except with a "v" in it. pic.twitter.com/vQTip3p5qj
— Todd Whitehead (@CrumpledJumper) June 13, 2023
Many assumed that the Miami Heat were playing three-dimensional chess when they took Nikola Jovic at pick No. 27, that there was some unrealized potential waiting within. That potential is still unrealized if it’s still there, as Jovic showed very little as a rookie. That was to be expected given his slim frame and raw game, and as the Heat were battling just to make the Play-In Tournament they didn’t have a lot of free minutes to pass around.
The theory behind Jovic is intriguing, and the Heat certainly have a good developmental track record. If the 6’10” Jovic can add strength and hone his shot, there is a rotation role in the NBA for him. For now, that’s all a bunch of maybes, and the Heat may have been better served adding a player more likely to hit than spending a roster spot on a project.
Grade: C