The Miami Heat didn’t end up using either their 2022 or 2023 first-round pick to trade for P.J. Washington or anyone else on Thursday. But could we see the minor KZ Okpala trade that gave Miami more draft pick flexibility pay dividends over the summer?
John Hollinger of The Athletic awarded the Okpala trade the “Let’s get crazy award” in a column Friday. He pointed to a scenario on Draft night in which the Heat trade both their 2022 and 2023 first-round picks right after making their pick this year. Teams cannot trade future first-round picks in consecutive seasons, but trading the player right after he’s drafted along with next year’s first-round pick is allowed.