ASK IRA: Are Heat guaranteed of lottery value? Would they trade the pick?

Q: Ira, found it interesting that you posted about the Heat getting a good player even if they don’t move up in the lottery. But that has been the problem since the Big 3. We’ve had a lot of “good” players but no superstars. Even your list said there are four, five or six elite players in this lottery. That’s why losing would have helped. – Alan.

A: But every draft, there also are what I would refer to as “trap” players, those who tempt a fall into the best of lottery odds, only to wind up no better than those taken in the middle of the first round, which is where the Heat have selected over the past decade. Such examples would include Zaccharie Risacher (No 1, Hawks, 2024), Jaden Ivey (No. 5, Pistons, 2022), Jalen Green (No. 2, Rockets, 2021), James Wiseman (No. 2, Warriors, 2020), Jarret Culver (No. 6, Timberwolves, 2019). But, yes, this year’s draft very much has an elite edge at the top, to be followed by several likely contributing, starting-level players. In fact, a case could be made that if the Heat do move into the first four on Sunday, the player taken this June could wind up as the best on the roster in ensuing years.

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Q: Watch Pat Riley, he’ll move up in the lottery and then trade the pick. Save your lists, Ira. – Stephen.

A: And he just might. Look, that’s what the Cavaliers did when they won the first pick and turned Andrew Wiggins into Kevin Love. And don’t kid yourself, if the Heat do move up, especially close to the top, they will be the ones fielding calls. Suddenly, the Bucks could become their best friends. Or even the . And who knows, Joe Cronin this time might be the one wondering if the other side will pick up the phone.