(Mandatory Credit: Charles Rex Arbogast / AP)
We have known for nearly a month that Monday night’s 2025 NBA Draft Lottery had no bearing on the Miami Heat, who became the first team in NBA History to escape the play-in as the No. 10 seed.
Miami was still mercifully swept out of the postseason, nowhere to be seen again for the remainder of the 2024-25 season. And for good reason. They were laughed, kicked and stomped out of their home building not just once, but twice by the Cleveland Cavaliers, losing Games 3 and 4 by a combined 92 points–122 for the series, an NBA record.
As a result of making the playoffs, the Heat–who had the 11th-best lottery odds heading into the play-in after finishing 37-45–lost their lottery-protected pick. They still have just one selection in the 2025 NBA Draft: The No. 20 pick, acquired by the Golden State Warriors in the Jimmy Butler trade.
However, the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery results added even more insult to injury to what was already one of the worst Heat seasons since the turn of the century.
The Dallas Mavericks, who had the 11th-best odds, won the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery:
Yes, you read that correctly.
The Dallas Mavericks, who had just an 8.5 percent chance at securing a top-4 pick and a 1.8 percent chance at landing the No. 1 pick, won the lottery and earned the No. 1 pick.
They had the 11th-best odds–in the exact spot the Miami Heat held when its tumultuous regular season ended one month ago.
Fitting, right?!
While changing one variable (team) doesn’t mean the Heat would’ve moved up–they never have in 11 trips–the agonizing stomach churn processing the “what-if?” must be lasting. You can’t help but imagine it. You can’t help but laugh.
By no means am I advocating for outright tanking Hornets, Jazz or Wizards style–the Nos. 4-6 picks, respectively–but let’s not forget the greatest player in Heat history was a top-5 pick.
Sure, preventing two future picks from being locked up is a positive from making the postseason.
But Miami could’ve used this one–badly.
For a franchise lacking a clear direction, landing Flagg–or any of the top talents–would’ve put this organization right back on the path it should be on: Building a sustainable contender. The trajectory would’ve completely changed. All of the constant turmoil would’ve been worth it.
Yet, we are all here today, imagining what could’ve been on a day that didn’t have any bearing on the Miami Heat’s pick in the first place.
***
To check out our other content, click here.
Follow Hot Hot Hoops on Twitter/X here!
Follow Hot Hot Hoops on Instagram here!
Subscribe to our YouTube channel here!