2020 NBA Draft: Top 1st round options for Miami Heat to select

France's Theo Maledon on his way to score a point during an All Star Game basketball match of the French Ligue Nationale de Basket (LNB) between a selection of the best international players from the Pro A league against a selection of the best French players, at the AccorHotels Arena, in Paris on December 29, 2018. - The LNB All Star Game is an exhibition match between a team of the best French players and a team of the best international players of the French Elite basketball league. (Photo by Lucas BARIOULET / AFP) (Photo credit should read LUCAS BARIOULET/AFP via Getty Images) /

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BELGRADE, SERBIA – NOVEMBER 15: Theo Maledon of Asvel Villeurbanne (Photo by Srdjan Stevanovic/Getty Images) /

Theo Maledon

Miami has no overwhelming need for a guard but that is precisely what makes Theo Maledon a solid selection for the Miami Heat on draft night. The 19-year old Maledon is 6-foot-4 with a +5 wingspan that makes him a great fit on defense right off the bat in Miami.

The lanky guard didn’t collect many steals at ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne but with Miami’s coaching and player development, he could potentially become a useful switch defender, especially when it comes to denying entry passes to stronger bigs.

But the reason you draft Maledon is that he figures to develop into a player capable of being a strong starting point guard, albeit taking considerable time with the young man having been born in 2001. Despite his youth, Maledon makes some impressive passes and shows a great understanding of passing angles, especially on drive-and-kick opportunities.

Theo Maledon is adept in the screen-and-roll/pop game and keeps defenses off guard with an array of pass fakes. Maledon will reject screens, get his man on his hip and keep him there as he slowly probes the defense looking for an angle to launch a floater or find an open man. His patience at the guard position at such a young age means that as the game slows down with further experience, he’ll create even more chances to exploit mismatches and generate open looks for others.

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Maledon does not warrant more than 10-15 minutes if he was to see the floor in any capacity as a rookie with the Miami Heat. But he would be solid in a bit role as he successfully showcased in France. He only hit 33.3% of his 3-point shots over the 2019-20 season but there is more than enough evidence of Maledon have a capable jumper.

With a “win-now” team like Miami, even options like draft-and-stash would be on the table (of Maledon was willing, of course), making the young Maledon even more of a fit. There is no rush for Maledon to be a star on a team as deep and tough as Miami and they sport perhaps the best player development staff in the NBA.

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