2024 NBA Mock Draft: Grizzlies add key piece in lottery, Pistons get future star
By Tyler Watts
17. Miami Heat select Reed Sheppard
Nobody expected Sheppard to be a one-and-done player coming into this season, but at some point, the production speaks for itself. He averages 11.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 2.5 steals, and 0.8 blocks in 26.0 minutes per game. The 19-year-old has primarily come off the bench, but he is feasting by shooting 56.1 percent from the field and 53.6 percent on his threes.
Sheppard has a high basketball IQ and consistently makes plays. He won’t shoot 50 percent from 3-point range, but the 6’3 guard is impactful on both ends of the floor. Sheppard sinks open looks and has shown impressive playmaking chops. There is a ton to like, but does he have enough size?
Sheppard is more of an off-ball pest than a lockdown defender. He will create turnovers and keep the offense on their toes, but he is not staying in front of the best point guards in the world. His role and playing time are question marks, but Sheppard has proven he can produce at the NCAA level. Do not count out him working his way into a crucial role on an NBA contender.
The Miami Heat love to add high-IQ prospects who are undervalued by other teams. Reed Sheppard could be the next on the list of offering surprise production in South Beach.