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The NBA's 2026 draft lottery produced a familiar result for Miami: They landed at No. 13, continuing a streak that now spans 12 lotteries without a move up. But there was a notable detail attached to Sunday's outcome that got considerably less attention than the picks themselves.
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the Heat were among the teams that quietly supported the league's proposed flattened lottery odds that could go into effect in 2027. Speaking on air, Charania explained that Miami's position made that stance logical:
"A team like the Miami Heat today finishes 13th. They're a team I'm told have been supportive of this flattened odds because the marketplace helps them where players obviously want to be at."
The Heat's player marketplace strategy has not changed under Pat Riley
Miami finished this season at 43-39, landing in the lottery for the first time since 2019, when they drafted Tyler Herro at No. 13. Before Herro, Bam Adebayo came at No. 14 in 2017. Kel'el Ware arrived at No. 15 in 2024.
Shams says the Miami Heat were supporters of the new flattened lottery odds:
"A team like the Miami Heat today finishes 13th. They're a team i'm told have been supportive of this flattened odds because the marketplace helps them where players obviously want to be at" pic.twitter.com/h0uKpadbPi
So they have carved out a legitimate identity as a mid-first-round developer, and their draft-day success in that range has made any automatic anxiety about picking 13th seem somewhat overstated in South Florida.
Miami did not tank this season. They underperformed, finished where they finished, and still land in a position that aligns with their model.
The more significant implication of Sunday's result is what it does to the Heat's summer. Miami has enough financial flexibility to pursue a major trade target this offseason, with Giannis Antetokounmpo remaining the loudest name in those conversations.
Pat Riley went on record last week signaling an interest in cap space heading into what could be a busy 2027 free agency market as well. The 13th pick becomes a tool in that picture.
The Heat still owe their 2027 first-rounder to Charlotte under top-14 protections, meaning their asset situation is not unlimited.
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