As the NBA play-in tournament looms, the Miami Heat find themselves at a critical crossroads, with their postseason fate carrying significant draft pick implications.
ESPN’s Bobby Marks recently highlighted the stakes on X, detailing the complex consequences of the Heat’s upcoming games.
If the Heat advance to the first round of the playoffs, they’ll owe their 2025 first-round pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder and a top-14 protected 2027 first-rounder to the Charlotte Hornets (unprotected in 2028 if not conveyed).
However, if they falter in the play-in and miss the playoffs, they retain their 2025 first-rounder but must surrender an unprotected 2026 first to OKC and an unprotected 2028 first to the Charlotte Hornets.