Miami Heat NBA Draft picks: Which future picks do they own?
By Jack Simone
Miami Heat draft picks from 2021-2024
2021: No first-round picks, no second-round picks
It has been well documented that the Miami Heat don’t have any picks in this year’s draft. As mentioned, this class will be filled with talent, so trading up could be worth it.
They sent their first-rounder to Phoenix in the Goran Dragic trade back in 2015. Their second-rounder was traded to Portland in a deal for Brian Roberts in 2016.
2022: It’s complicated
This is where things get super weird. The Miami Heat could potentially have a first-round pick, but could also end up with only a late second.
If they end up in the lottery, then they keep their pick and send a second-round pick (via Philadelphia or Denver) to the Rockets. However, things get even more complicated.
If the Heat make the playoffs, then they will receive the least favorable of their own pick, Houston’s, and Brooklyn’s. In addition, Miami owes their own second-round pick to the Pacers.
To put it in simpler words, if the Heat make the playoffs in 2022, they’ll get a late first-round pick and a late second-round pick. If not, they keep their own first-rounder which would be in the lottery.
2023: Protected first-round pick, no second-round pick
The Miami Heat owe their first-round pick to the Thunder. However, it is lottery-protected in 2023, 2024, and 2025. If it is not conveyed by 2026, the pick becomes unprotected.
Their second-round pick is owed to one of many teams. There are a bunch of stipulations regarding the pick between those teams, but no matter what happens, the pick will not belong to Miami.
2024: One first-round pick, heavily protected second-round pick
Unless they miss the playoffs in 2023, the Miami Heat will own their first-rounder in 2024. If they miss the playoffs, it will once again be lottery protected.
Their second-round pick is heavily protected, and the protections are very complicated. It will be owed to either the Knicks or Hawks.
If the selection falls from pick 31-50, they keep the pick. If it falls from 51-55 it goes to the Hawks, and if it falls from 56-60 it goes to the Knicks.