Nikola Jovic a Heat exception? International intrigue a wild ride over franchise’s 35 seasons

The last time the Miami Heat turned to the NBA draft for an international prospect without collegiate experience it turned into a multidimensional disappointment. It also was the only previous time the Heat exited the draft with an international prospect without collegiate experience until last week's selection of Serbian Nikola Jovic with the No. 27 selection. Of the many things Heat President Pat Riley hopes for from Jokic, being Martin Muursepp 2.0 is not one of them. To review how the Heat have fared with international prospects over what will be their 35 seasons is to go back to June 26, 1996. That is when, with their draft board clear of their preferred prospects, the Utah Jazz decided to trade their No. 25 selection to the Heat for a conditional first-round pick, one that had to be within the first 20 selections in any of the next three years or unconditional in 2000. With the Heat picking at No. 26 in 1997, No. 22 in 1998 and No. 25 in 1999, the pick ultimately was conveyed to the Jazz in 2000. Utah used the selection on guard DeShawn Stevenson, who would go on to fashion a 13-season NBA career, including… Read full this story

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