With the NBA Draft order now finalized, there’s a clearer picture of where former UConn star Liam McNeeley might land in June.
After Monday night’s draft lottery, ESPN released an updated mock draft, which included a new projection for McNeeley. According to the latest predictions, he’s slated to be picked 20th overall by the Miami Heat.
From McNeeley’s standpoint, landing in Miami would be an ideal start to his NBA journey. Being coached by a future Hall of Famer like Erik Spoelstra would offer a strong foundation for his development—particularly important as McNeeley continues to grow into a well-rounded NBA player.
The reigning BIG EAST Freshman of the Year posted averages of 14.5 points per game, shooting 38.1% from the field and 31.7% from three-point range.
While McNeeley has demonstrated the ability to shoot from long distance, greater consistency from beyond the arc is still a work in progress.
Should Miami select McNeeley, it would present “an opportunity for the front office to once again highlight its strong talent evaluation,” wrote ESPN’s Jonathan Givony, referencing the Heat’s past draft success.
McNeeley could also contribute right away, filling a need on a Heat roster that’s still searching for offensive support following the trade of Jimmy Butler at last season’s deadline.
Though McNeeley wouldn’t directly replace Butler, he would bolster Miami’s depth at the forward position.
With the draft still weeks away, there’s time for projections to shift. It’ll be worth watching where McNeeley ends up on mock drafts and which team ultimately positions itself to pick the 19-year-old prospect.
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