The Miami Heat added to their backcourt on the second night of the 2026 NBA Draft, trading up to land Louisville guard Ryan Conwell. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Oklahoma City Thunder selected Conwell at No. 37 and sent him to Miami in exchange for the No. 41 pick and cash.
It is a logical target for a Heat team that just reshaped its roster. After acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo in a blockbuster trade, as we covered, Miami’s clearest need became perimeter shooting to space the floor around its new frontcourt, and Conwell fits that mold.
While Conwell has played for four colleges in four years, his growth in decision making is noteworthy. His shot selection has shifted with a high percentage coming either behind the arc or at the rim. The 6-foot-2 guard knocked down 99 or more threes in three consecutive college seasons and averaged 18.8 points per game last year at Louisville.
Conwell lack of elite burst and not being a disruptive defender are traits that pushed him into the second round. Still, his shotmaking gives him a clear path to an NBA role and it’s reminicient of Miami drafting Mario Chalmers when LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh joined forces.
We had Conwell ranked No. 38 on our 10-Tier, Top 60 Big Board, so Miami essentially landed a player right around where we valued him, while moving up four spots to secure him.
For a team chasing a championship around its new core, adding affordable shooting is exactly the kind of move that can pay off.
