A Royal Pain
Fansided

2017 NBA First Round Mock Draft 2.0

By Tyler Watts

Mar 24, 2017; Memphis, TN, USA;Kentucky Wildcats guard De'Aaron Fox (0) drives between UCLA Bruins forward TJ Leaf (22) and guard Lonzo Ball (2) in the first half during the semifinals of the South Regional of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 24, 2017; Memphis, TN, USA;Kentucky Wildcats guard De'Aaron Fox (0) drives between UCLA Bruins forward TJ Leaf (22) and guard Lonzo Ball (2) in the first half during the semifinals of the South Regional of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 9, 2016; Greensboro, NC, USA; Wake Forest Demon Deacons forward John Collins (20) stands on the court in the second half against the UNC-Greensboro Spartans at Greensboro Coliseum. Wake defeated UNCG 78-75. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 9, 2016; Greensboro, NC, USA; Wake Forest Demon Deacons forward John Collins (20) stands on the court in the second half against the UNC-Greensboro Spartans at Greensboro Coliseum. Wake defeated UNCG 78-75. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports /

14. Miami Heat- John Collins- PF- Wake Forest

The Miami Heat have a ton of cap and roster flexibility at this point.  Hassan Whiteside and Goran Dragic are their two building blocks.  They have intriguing young pieces in Josh Richardson and Justice Winslow along with the untradeable contract of Tyler Johnson.  The rest of the roster is up in the air as of this writing.

The Heat will probably be searching for a frontcourt partner for Whiteside.  James Johnson played phenomenally last season, but he is a free agent and already 30 years old.  The Heat have next to no depth behind him even if he returns.

Why John Collins?

John Collins and Hassan Whiteside could form the best rebounding duo in the NBA.  Collins has some defensive shortcoming that Whiteside could mask, but he is a phenomenal rebounder.

Collins was a scorer for Wake Forest (19.2 points per game) despite not having much of a jump shot.  Drafting Collins would create a more traditional big man pairing for Heat, but I think Collins could grow a mid-range game and he would give the Heat a guy who is going to attack and score the basketball.  The Heat go for Collins over Harry Giles because of his scoring ability and the injury concerns around Giles.

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