![\"NBA](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Screenshot-5-12-4.57PM.jpg\")
(Mandatory Credit: Charles Rex Arbogast \/ AP)<\/p>\n(Mandatory Credit: Charles Rex Arbogast \/ AP)<\/p>\n
We have known for nearly a month that Monday night\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
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\u2013122 for the series, an NBA record.<\/a><\/p>\n As a result of making the playoffs, the Heat\u2013who had the 11th-best lottery odds heading into the play-in after finishing 37-45\u2013lost 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n The Dallas Mavericks, who had the 11th-best odds, won the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery:<\/p>\n Yes, you read that correctly.<\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n They had the 11th-best odds\u2013in the exact spot the Miami Heat held when its tumultuous regular season ended one month ago.<\/p>\n Fitting, right?!<\/p>\n While changing one variable (team) doesn\u2019t mean the Heat would\u2019ve moved up\u2013they never have in 11 trips\u2013the agonizing stomach churn processing the \u201cwhat-if?\u201d must be lasting. You can\u2019t help but imagine it. You can\u2019t help but laugh.<\/p>\n By no means am I advocating for outright tanking Hornets, Jazz or Wizards style\u2013the Nos. 4-6 picks, respectively\u2013but let\u2019s not forget the greatest player in Heat history was a top-5 pick. <\/p>\n Sure, preventing two future picks from being locked up is a positive from making the postseason.<\/p>\n But Miami could\u2019ve used this one\u2013badly. <\/p>\n For a franchise lacking a clear direction, landing Flagg\u2013or any of the top talents\u2013would\u2019ve put this organization right back on the path it should be on: Building a sustainable contender. The trajectory would\u2019ve completely changed. All of the constant turmoil would\u2019ve been worth it.<\/p>\n Yet, we are all here today, imagining what could\u2019ve been on a day that didn\u2019t have any bearing on the Miami Heat\u2019s pick in the first place. <\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n To check out our other content, click\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Follow Hot Hot Hoops on Twitter\/X\u00a0here<\/a>!<\/p>\n Follow Hot Hot Hoops on Instagram\u00a0here<\/a>!<\/p>\n Subscribe to our YouTube channel\u00a0here<\/a>!<\/p>\n \t\t\t