Riley, Heat officials check out draft prospects. And Wade addresses Butler issue in Miami

Miami Herald

21-05-2025

The preparation for next month's NBA Draft this week took Heat president Pat Riley and several team officials to Southern California, where they checked out several players expected to go in Miami's draft range at No. 20.
Riley, vice president/basketball operations Adam Simon, director of college/pro scouting Keith Askins and team executive Eric Amsler were in Los Angeles for Pro Day workouts.
One of those workouts, which is coordinated by Rich Paul's Klutch Sports Group, included at least three players projected to go in the late teens or 20s — Illinois forward Will Riley, Florida point guard Walter Clayton Jr. and St. Joseph's power forward Rasheer Fleming.
Riley, a 6-8 forward, could be very much in the Heat's wheelhouse at 20, with a pick acquired from the Warriors in a trade that sent Jimmy Butler to Golden State.
Riley averaged 12.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists last season while shooting 43.2% from the field and 32.6% on threes.
ESPN draft analyst Jonathan Givony said 'Will Riley showed off the physical gains he's made and offensive versatility at 6-foot-8 at Klutch pro day, with a large contingent of NBA decision-makers in the building.'
ESPN draft analyst Jeremy Woo said Riley has 'excellent size for a wing (measuring more than 6-8 barefoot at the combine) and room to add strength. His terrific offensive instincts and potential to make shots from the perimeter at a high level check important boxes if a team can afford him some patience.'
Fleming, a 6-9 forward projected by many to go in the mid-20s, averaged 14.8 points and 8.5 rebounds while shooting 53.1% from the field and 39% on threes for St. Joseph's this past season.
'His excellent size and how effectively he scored this season for Saint Joseph's give him some attractive role-player qualities,' Woo said. 'As a late-blooming player who is still lacking in ball skills and overall awareness at times, Fleming is more of a developmental addition than a true plug-and-play option in the late first round.'
Clayton, 6-2, played very well in the NCAA Tournament, helping lead the Gators to the national title. After scoring 30 in a regional final against Texas Tech, Clayton had 34 points in the national semifinal win against Auburn and 11 points, seven assists and five rebounds in the championship against Houston.
'Despite measuring smaller than expected at the combine, Clayton brings tremendous shotmaking prowess and all-around scoring talent, making big plays in clutch moments all season while creating chaos for opposing defenses with his speed and unpredictability,' Givony said, projecting him to go in the late 20s.
Clayton averaged 18.3 points, 4.2 assists and shot 38.6 percent from the field this season.
Besides Riley, other college players projected for Miami's draft range include Michigan State combo guard Jase Richardson, Connecticut small forward Liam McNeeley, Michigan power forward Danny Wolf, Georgia power forward Asa Newell and Georgetown center Thomas Sorber.
The Heat's own pick, at No. 15, was sent to Oklahoma City to complete a 2019 trade involving Butler.
Wade on Butler
On his podcast, Heat legend Dwyane Wade addressed an issue with Butler that occasionally surfaced during his time with the Heat: a perplexing reluctance to shoot in some games.
'I think the thing with Jimmy is, I didn't like the way he just approached the game,' Wade said of Butler's performance in Golden State's season-ending Game 5 loss to Minnesota last week.
'I know Jimmy is a pass-first guy. I know he's about getting his teammates the ball, and want to see them shine. But it's a point where, you're getting $60 [million.] This ain't working. You gotta go. He won't look at the basket. And I've seen this before. I've seen it in the Heat jersey.
'Jimmy Butler's too good of a basketball player to not have his imprint on the game. And sorry, sir. When it's time for you to take over, you just have to. And even when you can't do it, from the standpoint of you ain't making no shots, I don't care. Shoot. It's bad offense if you're not shooting.
'Getting too close in that paint, and not putting that ball up to that basket, that's bad offense.'
Wade wondered whether Butler's performance contributed to the Heat's decision not to offer him an extension through 2026-27.
'It's not always because of injury. Sometimes I need to see what you going to do in every moment, not just in one moment,' Wade said about Riley's decision.
With Steph Curry injured, Butler combined for just nine field goals in Golden State's final two losses to Minnesota in the Timberwolves' 4-1 series win against the Warriors. Butler shot 5 for 9 en route to scoring 14 points in Game 4 and shot 4 for 11 in a 17-point effort in Game 5.
Butler's agent, Bernie Lee, responded to Wade's critique on the social media platform X.
'Let's be clear, the playoffs for him started in February,' Lee said. '1. Took a team that was 11th got them to the 2nd round of the playoffs. 2. that finals team that's just kind of off handedly mentioned here.. had 9 undrafted players on it..
'I'm not going to complain [about] the standard he's held to because it's a blessing that hes earned but I just feel like sometimes it's a bit ridiculous. The other teams get paid too, he got beat, his team got beat...shake their hands.. walk away, swing again.
'There is a reason that in 6 of the last 7 years the team that beats him in the playoffs wins the chip and it is because they are pretty good.'
▪ Per rotoworld.com, Jaime Jaquez Jr. led the Heat this season in average mph run while on the court, at 4.6.