2026 NBA Draft Miami Heat(Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

After the MiamI Heat’s blazing 14-7 start to the season, they have suddenly returned to familiar territory at the midway point of the season. As we approach the All-Star break, the Heat are 23-22. They are in sole possession of the No. 8 seed in the East once again!

Furthermore, they are set to be a bottom-third offense (No. 20) for the fourth-straight year, despite owning a top-10 defense that’s rightfully slipped since the start of the New Year. With less than two weeks until the Trade Deadline, one thing should be clear: The Miami Heat should prioritize the 2026 NBA Draft.

Why the 2026 NBA Draft should be a priority for Heat:

At this current juncture, the Heat have dealt with multiple injuries to their star players, namely Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro, who will miss his 35th game of the season Saturday. After all, we’ve only seen Adebayo, Herro and Norman Powell together eight times this season.

Miami’s lack of lineup continuity is an issue.

That said, as we’ve belabored for the last several months, they’re still not close to contending — even in the weakest Eastern Conference in recent memory!

And one year after landing a consensus top-10 prospect No. 20 overall in the 2025 NBA Draft in Kasparas Jakucionis — who’s still in the beginning of his developmental trek — Miami could be in prime position to strike again in another loaded ’26 class.

We’ve outlined the importance of cost-controlled contracts. Though arguably the Heat’s biggest strength as a front office is their ability to identify — and develop — talent. They’ve done great work with Jaime Jaquez Jr. (No. 18), Kel’el Ware (15), and Pelle Larsson (44) over the last three drafts. I’d argue that, while he’s had a rough season, they’ve done a quality job developing Nikola Jovic, an incredibly skinny and raw 18-year-old guard when he was drafted in 2022.

The 2026 draft, led by a trio of Darryn Peterson, Cam Boozer and AJ Dybantsa, is arguably the best in recent memory. If the Heat prioritize acquiring at least one more 2026 pick at the deadline, they could be in great position to add even more, fresh young talent. We won’t know who will officially declare or stay until May/June (thanks, NIL). However, this freshman class is excellent — and deep.

Having multiple bites at the apple could also put the Heat in position to acquire a 2027 draft pick. As a result of the Terry Rozier trade, they won’t their own ’27 draft pick unless they finish in the lottery.

Nevertheless, Miami should be leaning into accumulating assets and prioritizing its short- and long-term future. And one of those priorities should be the 2026 NBA Draft, which we go more in-depth on in the coming weeks and months.

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