The Miami Heat’s future first round picks will be greatly influenced by their playoff status this season. If the Heat end up in the lottery, a first round pick owed to the Oklahoma City Thunder will become unprotected in 2026.
Furthermore, it will impact a first round pick that the Heat owe to the Charlotte Hornets for the Terry Rozier trade. This pick would transition from a protected 2027 pick to an unprotected 2028 first round selection.
In 2019, Miami traded their initial first round pick to the Los Angeles Clippers as part of a sign-and-trade deal to acquire Jimmy Butler. The Thunder later acquired this pick from the Clippers and modified its terms in a February 2022 trade involving KZ Okpala.
Currently, the Miami Heat are tied for fifth place in the Eastern Conference and have a decent chance of making the playoffs, regardless of the ongoing situation with Jimmy Butler.
