2:05pm: As part of the deal, the Heat have amended their future draft obligations to the Thunder, the Heat announced in a full press release and the Thunder confirmed in a release of their own.
Instead of owing Oklahoma City their top-14 protected first-round pick in 2023, the Heat will now owe OKC their 2025 first-rounder (also top-14 protected).
That ’23 first-rounder would have been top-14 protected for three straight seasons before becoming unprotected in 2026. Now, the Heat’s ’25 first-rounder will be lottery-protected for just one year before becoming unprotected in ’26.
Essentially, the Thunder improved their odds of gaining a higher first-rounder by pushing the pick a couple years into the future (when the Heat could theoretically be less assured of having a playoff-caliber roster) and ensuring it has just one year of protection. Miami could also now trade its 2022 or 2023 first-round pick without running afoul of the Stepien rule.
The 2026 second-rounder the Heat acquired in the trade will be the least favorable of the Thunder’s, Mavericks’, and Sixers’ second-rounders that year, according to the Heat’s announcement.
Oklahoma City ended Mamadi Diakite‘s 10-day contract a day early in order to complete the trade, per the team. It’s not yet clear if the Thunder plan to hang onto Okpala, tweets Joe Mussatto of The Oklahoman.
1:50pm: The Heat have traded forward KZ Okpala to the Thunder in exchange for a 2026 second-round pick, Miami announced today (via Twitter).
While the Thunder, who have a massive collection of future draft picks, can certainly afford to give up a ’26 second-rounder, we’ll have to wait for their official announcement to see if there are protections on the pick or if the Heat are sending out any cash in the deal, since Okpala’s trade value is presumably limited.
The 32nd overall pick in the 2019 draft out of Stanford, Okpala has appeared in just 63 games across three seasons for Miami. In 2021/22, he has averaged 3.7 PPG and 2.0 RPG in 21 contests (11.6 MPG). Okapala hasn’t played since December due to a wrist injury. He’ll be eligible for restricted free agency at season’s end.
By moving Okpala, the Heat, who had been right up against the luxury tax line, open a second spot on their 15-man roster and now should be in a comfortable position to promote Caleb Martin from his two-way contract.
Miami may wait until after Thursday’s trade deadline to make that move in order to maximize its roster and financial flexibility. But it’s a safe bet Martin will be added to the 15-man roster sooner or later. If they don’t make any other trades, the Heat could go shopping on the buyout market with their other roster opening.
My Guess is they want to convert Caleb’s two way contract into a standard one and at the same time keep a 15th roster spot waiting for a bought out player after the trade line
My bad, sorry I wrote this after the first “more to come” and then Luke added It later.
Great minds, etc.
Finally! The blockbuster move everyone’s been waiting for!
Really don’t see what this gets the thunder….a guy who might never suit up for them and even if he does isn’t a long term piece, just cannon fodder to help tank this year.
Also moving the heats first rounder back a couple years. I guess that was the best they could get. Would rather have seen them remove some of the restrictions on it instead. (Make it top 10 protected) but I guess the heat had no desire to do that.
Also won’t be the last salary taking on trade OKC does in the near future I’m betting.
Sam Presti just doing trades for the sake of doing trades….
B*TTHOLE TRADE GRADES
OKC
Grade: D-
Summary: I don’t really care about this trade, however, I am tired of OKC’s endless noodling around with “future assets”. Will you trade for a player who can *somewhat* play basketball at an NBA level already? Please?
Miami
Grade: D
Summary: For enabling Presti’s continuing Hinkie-esque m*sturbation session.
This opens a first round pick for Miami to trade if they want to add to the roster either over the next 24 hours or at next year’s deadline
This was expected, HEAT creates more cap space and another spot to elevate Caleb, who’s a fixture in the rotation now, to a standard contract.
KZ did show some improvement this season, hitting that corner three more and somewhat improved decision making on both sides of the court – though it’s far from the leaps that Strus, Vincent, Martin and even Yurtseven had took.
KZ goes to a young OKC squad, if they keep him and gets minutes, he might turn out to be a nice rotation piece off the bench.
They have so many people at his position
Disappointed. He was finally starting to be used, and used correctly at times this year, and he looked good, and things were starting to come together. Then he got hurt, and we havent seen him since. I said before the season I preferred just keeping him, instead of Markieff Morris at the 4, and that has shown to be correct. Really wish the Heat could have kept him, b/c they still need to address that position, even with PJ Tucker having been amazing.
I preferred not to move anyone, except Morris, and maybe Dedmon, if necessary. Dont want to move Duncan Robinson unless it’s for something really significant. Same for Yurtseven. I will accept this though, b/c they were able to make those picks coming up usable, which obviously gives them a better asset than a pick down the road. Hopefully they fill that spot with something legit, and then use 1 of their other spots to promote Caleb Martin, and make sure they have depth by replacing Morris
the fact that you would trade morris or dedmon tells me you know nothing about winning in the NBA.. both of them will be massive in the late round playoffs.. especially against people like Giannis
Morris wouldnt do anything, and I said maybe dedmon in the right deal. Dedmon against Milwaukee without Brook Lopez is 1 of the reasons they lost to them last year, but I would still keep him unless he helps me get a floor spacing big/a bigger 4 that can defend and shoot, or another small ball 5 to replace Morris…Morris is useful against Milwaukee, but in small lineups at the 5. Okpala is better than him at the 4.
…the dedmon idea was more for salary matching in a pj washington deal, if just centered around a pick b/c otherwise. I mostly wouldnt trade him right now either, and his minimum deal doesn’t get you much anyway
Just a case of the Heat prepping for something they are doing a step or two from now.
4 words…. Welcome Back Goran Dragic