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The Miami Heat are known as being a team that consistently finds players when no one else can. Their ability to find undrafted gems is well known. They are an organization that prides themselves on this skill.
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Though consistently finding value in undrafted players is obviously good, stars are typically found in the first round of drafts. There are exceptions but the vast majority of stars are found in the lottery specifically.
The Heat are not frequently in the lottery, so they have to rely on their scouting and player development to get the best player possible. The question is, how have they done in their last five choices in the first round?
2025 – Kasparas Jakučionis – Pick: 20
First up we have last years first round pick in Kasparas Jakučionis. He of course was traded to Milwaukee in the Giannis Antetokounmpo, which will be a common theme in this exercise. Considering this pick is just 1 season old, there is still a lot left to learn. The early analysis though shows Jakučionis has all the potential to be a rotation point guard.
His best skill is his passing. He has the ability to make any pass you can think of, which can actually get him into trouble at times. He is susceptible to turnovers, but as he plays more this should fix itself. He also showed great shooting potential knocking down 42% of his threes last year.
2024 – Kel’el Ware – Pick: 15
Kel’el Ware is an enigma. On one hand he has literally all the talent one could dream to be born with. He is long, athletic, moves fluidly, and has good touch for a big man. The downside though is his seemingly lack of consistent motor.
Like Jakučionis, Ware now is in Milwaukee, and it will be their job to maximize his skills. Ware can develop into a legit three point threat and a defensive anchor. The only thing holding him back might be himself. There is plenty of time for Ware to fix the motor concerns and if he does then he will have a chance to be an All-Star in his career.
2023 – Jaime Jaquez Jr. – Pick: 18
I’ll start with what everyone is thinking. Yes, Jaime Jaquez Jr. also now plays for the Milwaukee Bucks. Jaquez Jr. though will be the most proven player in this list.
Jaquez Jr. had a sensational rookie year, where he was placed on the All-Rookie first team and 4th in Rookie of the Year voting. He then followed this up with a lackluster sophomore campaign that had many questioning if he was just a one year wonder. Then last season happened.
Last season was the best of his young career, and in my opinion really showed that he will be a very good NBA player for years to come. His ability to bounce back from his down season was impressive.
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Jaquez Jr. best attribute is his foot work in the post. He plays like a 10 year vet or like the old guy at the park that has every post move known to man somehow. Jaquez Jr. is calm amongst the chaos, and he has refined his game to have even more counters for the defense.
2022- Nikola Jovic – Pick: 27
We have finally arrived at a player that is still in Miami. That is the 27th pick in the 2022 NBA draft Nikola Jovic.
Jovic has had an interesting career and one riddled with a lot of missed games. Currently his career high in games played is just 47, which was last season.
Jovic was making consistent strides in his game, but then last season he hit a wall and boy was it ugly. Jovic rated as one of the worst shooters in the whole league last year, and shooting is supposed to be one of his good traits.
Ultimately the addition of Antetokounmpo and a reset of the team could be what Jovic needs to get back to playing reliable basketball. Even after signing a rookie extension, if Jovic does not turn it around quickly, he could be finding himself the next one traded.
2020- Precious Achiuwa – Pick: 20
Reading this one might be a jump scare for some Heat fans, Precious Achiuwa is the 5th most recent first round pick for Miami. Though Achiuwa has statistically outperformed his draft slot in many categories, the pick is more known for who was not selected. That being Tyreese Maxey, who many fans wanted during the draft.
Achiuwa has bounced around the league after being traded to Toronto for Kyle Lowry, but he has played 393 career NBA games. It is really no fault of Achiuwa’s, but most Heat fans will always look at this pick with a bitter taste in their mouth.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com/nba/heat/onsi as How things played out for the Heat’s last 5 first round draft picks.
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This story was originally published August 12, 2026 at 4:00 AM.