![\"Miami](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Screenshot-6-9-7.50AM-1024x683.jpg\")
(Mike Stocker\/South Florida Sun Sentinel\/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)<\/p>\n(Mike Stocker\/South Florida Sun Sentinel\/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)<\/p>\n
We are two weeks away from the 2025 NBA Draft! Time is flying by, with this potentially being a huge draft for the Miami Heat, who own the No. 20 pick.<\/p>\n
Every draft is different in its own, beautiful way. It\u2019s nearly impossible to evaluate how good each draft is until at least 2-3 years, but the expectation is that the 2025 class will be as good at the top as we\u2019ve had in recent memory, led by Duke superstar Cooper Flagg. However, in the Heat\u2019s instance, drafting at 20 is different than, say, the lottery or the top-10.<\/p>\n
I won\u2019t carve through each and every draft, for the sake of this article. But what does recent history tell us about the Heat\u2019s draft position? I parsed through each of the last five drafts to see if there was anything that stuck about the No. 20 pick, and what that could mean for June 25. Let\u2019s examine.<\/p>\n
(Editor\u2019s Note: I listed five picks after No. 20 to give a better indication of which players were available at 20, while listing just two beforehand to see a couple of players that almost fell.)<\/p>\n
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2020 NBA Draft:<\/p>\n
18: Josh Green, F, Arizona<\/p>\n
19: Saddiq Bey, F, Villanova<\/p>\n
20: Precious Achiuwa, F\/C, Memphis (HEAT)<\/p>\n
21: Tyrese Maxey, G, Kentucky<\/p>\n
22: Zeke Nnaji, F, Arizona<\/p>\n
23: Leandro Bolmaro, G\/F, Argentina<\/p>\n
24: R.J. Hampton, G, New Zealand<\/p>\n
25: Immanuel Quickley, G, Kentucky<\/p>\n
Other notable picks: Payton Pritchard (26), Jaden McDaniels (28), Desmond Bane (30), Tre Jones (41), Isaiah Joe (49), Sam Merrill (60)<\/p>\n
2021 NBA Draft:<\/p>\n
18: Tre Mann, G, Florida<\/p>\n
19: Kai Jones, F\/C, Texas<\/p>\n
20: Jalen Johnson, F, Duke<\/p>\n
21: Keon Johnson, G, Tennessee<\/p>\n
22: Isaiah Jackson, F, Kentucky<\/p>\n
23: Usman Garuba, F\/C, Spain<\/p>\n
24: Josh Christopher, G, Arizona State<\/p>\n
25: Quentin Grimes, G, Houston<\/p>\n
Other notable picks: Cam Thomas (27), Santi Aldama (30), Herb Jones (35), Miles McBride (36), Ayo Dosumnu (38), Aaron Wiggins (55)<\/p>\n
2022 NBA Draft:<\/p>\n
18: Dalen Terry, G, Arizona<\/p>\n
19: Jake LaRavia, F, Wake Forest<\/p>\n
20: Malaki Branham, G, Ohio State<\/p>\n
21: Christian Braun, G, Kansas<\/p>\n
22: Walker Kessler, C, Auburn<\/p>\n
23: David Roddy, G\/F, Colorado State<\/p>\n
24: MarJon Beauchamp, G, G-League Ignite<\/p>\n
25: Blake Wesley, G, Notre Dame<\/p>\n
Other notable picks: Nikola Jovic (27), Peyton Watson (30), Andrew Nembhard (31), Jaylin Williams (34), Max Christie (35), <\/p>\n
2023 NBA Draft:<\/p>\n
18: Jaime Jaquez, F, UCLA (HEAT)<\/p>\n
19: Brandin Podziemski, G, Santa Clara<\/p>\n
20: Cam Whitmore, G, Houston<\/p>\n
21: Noah Clowney, F, Alabama<\/p>\n
22: Dariq Whitehead, G\/F, Duke<\/p>\n
23: Kris Murray, F, Iowa<\/p>\n
24: Olivier Maxence Prosper, F, Marquette<\/p>\n
25: Marcus Sasser, G, Houston<\/p>\n
Other notable picks: Ben Sheppard (26), Julian Strawther (29), GG Jackson (45), Toumani Camara (52), Trayce Jackson-Davis (57)<\/p>\n
2024 NBA Draft:<\/p>\n
18: Tristan da Silva, F, Colorado<\/p>\n
19: Ja\u2019Kobe Walter, G, Baylor <\/p>\n
20: Jaylon Tyson, G, California<\/p>\n
21: Yves Missi, C, Baylor<\/p>\n
22: Da\u2019Ron Holmes, C, Houston<\/p>\n
23: AJ Johnson, G, Australia<\/p>\n
24: Kyshawn George, G, Baylor<\/p>\n
25: Pacome Dadiet, F, France<\/p>\n
Other notable picks: Terrence Shannon Jr. (27), Isaiah Collier (29), Jonathan Mogbo (31), Tyler Kolek (34), Jaylen Wells (39), Pelle Larsson (44), Jamal Shead (45), Quinten Post (52)<\/p>\n
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So, what does recent history indicate?<\/p>\n
It\u2019s difficult to hit draft picks out of the park that are outside the top-10, let alone outside the top-20. If you\u2019re looking at it from an All-NBA perspective, since 2000, only 21 players drafted outside the lottery have made an All-NBA team. Over these last five drafts\u2013a microscopic sample\u2013that number is a big fat donut. If you\u2019re drafting outside the top-10, generally, you\u2019re looking for players who can contribute as role players with potential All-Star upside. <\/p>\n
Recent history suggests those players will be available at 20. In 2020, Tyrese Maxey, Immanuel Quickley and Desmond Bane were all first-round picks after 20; Jalen Johnson was the No. 20 pick in 2021, with Quentin Grimes, Santi Aldama, Miles McBride, Ayo Dosumnu and Aaron Wiggins shortly thereafter; in subsequent drafts, Christian Braun, Walker Kessler, Andrew Nembhard, Julian Strawther, Toumani Camara and Yves Missi were all picks 20 or later.<\/p>\n
Will that actually happen on draft night?<\/p>\n
Yes, and no.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s start with the bad: This year, the middle of this draft was gutted with players either heading back to school or not declaring at all. There were only 106 early entrants (not including seniors) this year, when there\u2019s typically north of 200. Furthermore, 50 of those 106 withdrew their name. You can thank the NCAA\u2019s rabid NIL for that. When players can go back to school for (potentially) seven figures instead of the possibility of them not earning a guaranteed contract, you\u2019re likely going to take that money, try to improve your stock and throw your name in the hat the following season. And there\u2019s nothing wrong with that!<\/p>\n
But I still think there\u2019s the possibility that talent falls to 20. I\u2019m not going to say that I anticipate plenty of movement in the first round, but I\u2019m expecting chaos after the first few selections\u2013when Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, V.J. Edgecombe, Tre Johnson and Ace Bailey are presumably picked. Different front offices have different evaluations for each player based on an intersection of tape, pre-draft workouts and pre-draft interviews. A number of quality talent could fall to the Heat at No. 20 that they like, but we won\u2019t know until draft night, should they not trade the pick.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
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