With the 14th pick, the Miami Heat made Edrice Adebayo the third Kentucky Wildcat to be selected in the lottery. Unlike De’Aaron Fox and Malik Monk, it is a bit of a surprise to see Adebayo go in the lottery.
There is no denying the strengths that he has. Adebayo is an excellent rebounder and will help the Heat fill their hole at power forward. The Heat should dominate on the glass if Adebayo plays alongside center Hassan Whiteside. His defensive versatility should fit well too, as he can defend three positions on the court.
What makes him an odd fit is on the offensive. Right now, Adebayo has a very limited offensive arsenal. Outside of dunking, he has really nothing to offer. Can the Heat find enough spacing with him and Whiteside in the same frontcourt?
For Adebayo to live up to this draft slot, he will need to develop something offensively. Some of the qualities he brings will help the Heat, but the offensive side of the ball is a real work in progress.
Of all the picks in the lottery, this one may be the most head-scratching. This is not a knock so much against Adebayo, who has some lottery talent, but given the other players that were on the board, this selection is a little peculiar. The Heat could have been better off with T.J. Leaf or John Collins at power forward, or Justin Jackson to help add depth on the wing.