Miami Heat Advance to Playoffs, Send No. 15 Draft Pick to Oklahoma City Thunder

The Miami Heat's victory over the Atlanta Hawks in the Play-In tournament secured them the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, making them the first 10-seed in NBA history to advance out of the Play-In. As a result, Miami's No. 15 pick in the 2025 NBA draft will be conveyed to the Oklahoma City Thunder, rather than a potentially more valuable unprotected future pick. This draft asset comes from the 2019 Paul George trade and further bolsters the Thunder's already impressive collection of draft picks. Oklahoma City will now have at least two first-round selections in the upcoming draft, increasing their flexibility as they continue building around young stars like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Williams. The Thunder, as the top seed in the Western Conference, are also preparing for their own playoff run. This development underscores Oklahoma City's strategy of amassing draft capital to maintain a competitive roster in the years ahead.