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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Patrick Williams

Patrick Williams plays like a player who would fit right into what the Miami Heat set out to do. He is tough and physical with an enormous amount of potential as a floor-spacer.

Williams knocked down 32.0% of his 3-pointers over 29 games in the 2019-20 season, taking 1.7 attempts per game from deep. He hit 83.8% of his free throws with a healthy 35.7% free throw attempt rate. In the NBA I believe Williams will see a considerable increase in his free throw attempts. He has shown the ability to hit the 3-point shot and mid-range jumpers which will open up a large amount of pump-fake and drive opportunities as he gets more comfortable with NBA spacing.

At Flordia State, Williams was a key part of the Seminoles’ top-15 (KenPom) defense. He only played 22.5 minutes per game but a quick look at his per 100 possessions or per 40 minutes statistics and his impact becomes crystal clear. Patrick Williams averaged 1.8 steals and 1.8 blocks per 40 minutes this season and showed off an impressive level of help defense for a 19-year-old. His 6-foot-11 wingspan and play under Leonard Hamilton likely means Williams will be solid in any number of defensive systems.

Patrick Williams projects as one of the more surefire two-way players in the 2020 NBA Draft class. He has a nice-looking jump shot, a clean free throw stroke, and the athleticism to explode to the basket when the opportunity presents itself. Williams will have to do a lot of work on his ball-handling to become a more dynamic scorer but that isn’t a huge concern at the moment. Williams is an excellent help defender who will be a pest at point of attack defense as he adds strength. His stock will likely rise as scouts pore over game tape making Williams an absolute steal if he is available at 20.

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