The Miami Heat currently sit with the 13th pick in this year’s draft. While it’s a weak draft outside the top three, the 13th pick has struck gold before.
The 2019 NBA draft projects to be among the weakest in recent history outside of the top three picks, and the Miami Heat have been blessed with the 13th overall pick in that draft. There aren’t any likely stars who are expected to be available in the late lottery in this draft class, obviously, but historically the 13th pick has produced some pleasant surprises.
In fact, in the 2010’s decade, teams with that draft slot have been more likely than not to get a productive player. In 2017, Donovan Mitchell somehow slid all the way down to the Utah Jazz who eagerly scooped him up with their pick. In 2015, the Phoenix Suns drafted Devin Booker, in 2014 the Minnesota Timberwolves drafted Zach LaVine and the Boston Celtics drafted Kelly Olynyk in 2013.
Back to the beginning of the decade, the Phoenix Suns drafted Markieff Morris in 2011 and the Toronto Raptors drafted Ed Davis in 2010.
The 2000’s were a different story. The only players drafted at 13 who really made a mark in the NBA in that decade were Tyler Hansborough, Thabo Sefolosha, Richard Jefferson and Sebastian Telfair.
Going back to the 1990’s, it was a mixed bag with some serious star power at the top level. Cory Maggette was the last 13 pick of the decade, going to the Seattle Super Sonics in 1999 and beginning a career in which he played 827 NBA games.
There were some other productive draft picks in the decade, including Derek Anderson, Corliss Williamson, Jalen Rose, Dale Davis and Loy Vaught, but without a doubt the best player ever selected with the 13th pick was drafted in 1996 by the name of Kobe Bryant.
Just over a decade earlier, the Utah Jazz selected Karl Malone 13th overall in the 1985 NBA draft, although the 1980’s were another fairly desolate draft.
Even in an average draft, let alone a weak one like this, you shouldn’t expect to find much star power in the middle of the first round and late lottery. But throughout the history of the NBA, somehow the 13th pick has been a surprisingly lucky one with a disproportionate number of stars, superstars, and a healthy sprinkling of productive role players.
Miami Heat fans shouldn’t get their hopes up about this draft, but you never know. This could be their year after all.