The first round of the two-round, two-day 2025 NBA Draft wrapped up on Wednesday. The Miami Heat ultimately kept their pick, and just in case you missed it, the Miami Heat drafted Illinois guard Kasparas Jakucionis with the No. 20 overall pick! How do pundits view the selection? Let’s examine!
The Ringer (J. Kyle Mann): A
“Good grief, I did not see this one coming. Hard to say why Jakucionis plummeted this far, but the Heat are getting the second-most creative playmaker in the draft, behind only Egor Demin. The most important detail here is Kasparas is very capable of scaling down, playing off the ball, and bringing that creativity to the second or third action of the offense, which will be important in a system where Tyler Herro will often eat first. Opposing Eastern Conference fan bases are mad that this happened, if that gives you any idea of how well the Heat did (yet again).”
CBS Sports (Adam Finkelstein): A
“I understand the concerns. His skill and his basketball acumen are his best assets. He has good size, skill and processing instincts. However, he didn’t shoot the 3 particularly well and he had a high turnover rate. I understand why people are nervous, but you just put a chip on this guy’s shoulder and sent him to the Miami Heat. This is terrific value. If you’re a Heat fan, you are ecstatic about this. They’re rebuilding without bottoming out. They’re not interested in tanking.”
Bleacher Report (Jonathan Wasserman): A-
“The Heat might have had visions of using this pick to acquire an established star, but they have to be happy with how things turned out.
They needed a skilled playmaker on the perimeter, and Kasparas Jakučionis is one of the best ball-movers in this class. His skills and decision-making could use some buffering, but Miami’s developmental staff has a real chance to help him bring out his best.
There won’t be much defensive resistance between him and Tyler Herro, but a frontcourt trio featuring Andrew Wiggins, Bam Adebayo and Kel’el Ware looks like a group capable of cleaning up a lot of defensive mistakes. Plus, there will be nights in which Jakučionis and Herro just make enough happen offensively to offset whatever they give back at the other end.
Sizable playmakers are all the rage, and Jakučionis fits the bill as a 6’5″ lead guard with good vision and gobs of creativity. He’s also a tone-setting hustler and crafty below-the-rim finisher with perimeter shooting potential.
He hasn’t mastered offensive consistency yet, but the pressure is on him to do so since he’ll likely consistently be at a disadvantage defensively. Speedy guards can run circles around him, and bigger wings will power right through him.”
Sports Illustrated (Kevin Sweeney): A
“Jakucionis had a fairly wide range entering draft night and ends up falling from the lottery all the way to No. 20, but lands in a fairly good situation in Miami. Miami’s highly competitive environment is a strong fit for Jakucionis, whom Illinois head coach Brad Underwood has raved about for his work ethic. He has drawn comparisons to Austin Reaves and could fit well next to a high-usage scoring guard like Tyler Herro. There could be a path to early minutes here.”
Yahoo Sports (Kevin O’Connor): D+
“The Heat were probably hoping for Walter Clayton Jr. with this pick. For every beautiful assist Jakučionis had as a freshman, there’s an equally ugly bone-headed turnover. He had 11 games this past season with more turnovers than made shots. As a primary creator, he’s not a Tyrese Haliburton type. Think more along the lines of Spencer Dinwiddie; he’s one of your guys on the roster, but he’s not THE guy.”
SB Nation (Ricky O’Donnell): A-
“Jakucionis was projected as a top-5 pick earlier in the draft cycle until turnover issues tanked his stock. He still has a projectable NBA game with a strong frame, creative passing vision, pull-up shooting potential, and the ability to get to the free line. Jakucionis is a poor run-and-jump athlete who only dunked one time this year, but if his step-back three is falling, he’s very hard to guard. I’m shocked he fell this far.”
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What is My Take?
This is a home run for the Heat, who desperately needed a lead guard.
Jakucionis was the No. 7 player on my board. I had him as the second-best lead guard in the class, even though he had a problem with turnovers because of either making predetermined reads too often, or getting too flashy with his passes. However, Jakucionis can make every pass in the book with both hands and will make life exponentially easier for Bam Adebayo and Kel’el Ware in live-dribble situations–especially in ball-screens.
Miami has been a bottom-third offense for each of the last three years. The 6-foot-5 guard immediately alleviates one of their biggest issues: He’s more than capable of maximizing his team’s best players. While Jakucionis isn’t a great athlete, he’s a very physical guard with a nose for the rock and has great positional size. I project he’ll be a better shooter at the next level than his lone season with the Fighting Illini. I also think he’ll be a better point-of-attack defender if he continues to work at his foot speed and screen navigation.
Jakucionis, 19, has a ton of all-around potential as one of the most complete guards in the class. He’s already of this classes best playmakers, and I’d be stoked as a Heat fan because he has real potential to be the guard of the future. This was a massive home run value pick at No. 20.
Grade: A
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Hope always springs eternal on Draft Night. Every team will swear they got their guy. Well…I say this draft is like every draft – a crapshoot. Do see some blue sky for Heat. Do think Kuminga would be interesting addition with the dream subtraction of Wiggins (go back west Wiggs), Duncan (overpaid $$), & perhaps JJ (nauseous pivot foot moves) and not to forget Scary (Spastic) Terry. I did notice Heat were the only team that used all the 5min time allotment between picks perhaps indicating some confusion with Jazz taking Clayton. Also…when was last time Heat were totally focused on drafting a point guard? Like NEVER! Finally…
I loved this quote from The Ringer.
“Opposing Eastern Conference fan bases are mad that this happened, if that gives you any idea of how well the Heat did (yet again).”
Sure lmao they so mad that he fell to Mia lmao. Some teams with 2 picks skipped him twice. Team needed and needs two way players, you can defend it how all you want make jokes about dalton knecht etc but mis have a lot of similar Tyler Herro type players one way non athletic players. Don’t give af what media pundits gave Mia what grade they are laughing at this roster behind closed doors no one is mad that they picked a player unless his name is LeBron James Steph curry Michael Jordan
Damn, that half light beer is still kicking. Wizards picked Tre first, who was ranked higher than most players. On their second pick they went with Clayton, which is fine. But you are preaching two way guys and Clayton’s biggest knock outside of his size is lack of defense, so good job on that one.
Brooklyn picked Egor as they probably felt his upside was higher, but not only is he a riskier pick, his D sucks, too. Again, bang up job, bruh.
Spurs have Fox.
Yeah, I bet you were pounding the table for Steph that draft or Giannis in that draft. Or Jokers draft. Or Draymond. Or most freaking guys. I’m not saying he will be that level as I do not think that to be the case, but he is going to be a solid starter, whcih at 20 is all you can ask for. Most guys around here will be out of the league or at best rotation guys.
I suggest switching to O’Doul’s.
Who said anything about any of those players you named? If I’m off beer your still high cause I’m rarely wrong just like about not making the playoffs most here even you was for making the playoffs dumb move. Trading Jimmy after the 2023 season yes I was one of those very small minorities but haven’t been wrong yet. I’m man enough to admit when I’m wrong or when I’ve made a mistake, also very much so I told you kind of guy. And I’m telling you now in no universe is a starting backcourt with this dude and Herro doing nothing to this league besides get bullied now amen has another toy he can toss around. Also Ill throw this out there that’s why no FA whale comes to this team too many white sides with one way ability that no other teams want Ala Tyler herro which is why Mia is gonna have to pay him cause he can’t be traded same thing with this dude
Yall doing anything being sarcastic etc etc but can’t tell no one here the last team who’s best and most whiteside players won anything. Since the 50/60s since that seems to be the decade Mia is in
You are a lying punk @$$ B. I was literally posting over and over on how I wanted two picks in the 1st round this year. You can’t find that post which proves you are a lying punk @$$ B.
Scurry away, bud.
You told me you sure did! Love to pick and choose what to reply too I wrote all that and you can’t come back with anything besides name calling, trading Jimmy 1 year before anyone here said anything about it? What team full of one way players as many as Mia has won anything since the 50/60s? What about how Mia overvalues those one way players so much so they can’t be traded to other teams ala Tyler Herro that’s why they haven’t traded him and are about to pay him ss money
You started the name calling last night and I didn’t say anything. Now you’re butthurt because I called you the liar that you are.
Find my posts. Czech, Sun and Manila and I were all team tank for two picks. You were nowhere to be found, probably trolling some other board.
Buh-bye, Beeya
That’s true. Leading up to the February 2024 trading period, I wrote several times the team was going nowhere and Butler would give us one of the crazy hauls that were being handed out then. I don’t know and am not denying that hhh felt exactly the same, but I don’t remember seeing his handle back then unless he changed it (sascf? No, doesn’t fit).
as usual 100% correct but name calling cursing out dudes not cool bro.everybodys opinion matters thats the beauty of sports talk.2qbn is a sports guy knows his stuff btw
Best comment ever from you.
“”You are a lying punk @$$ B“
Make sure you comment that to him too
Go check the tape from Kuminga’s thread. Boo hoo, baby Beeya. Internet tough guy name calling but gets called out and whines like Lowry to the refs.
There is something not entirety fine with this guy Kuminga. Somehow didnt made it in GS to become a part of the core.
Internet tough guy name calling but gets called out and whines like Lowry to the refs. Nah dumbass it’s just I’m not the only one up here name calling and yall should be held accountable too dumbass
It would be good for all to tone it down a bit. I don’t care who hates the pick, Herro, Riley, Spo, whoever.
You’re not very bright, are you.
Neither are you
not bartles and james for hhh4l
You know, I really love you for this comment. I really do lol 🙂
I know, right? He’s been the voice of reason lately. Even though he’s wrong on just about everything, you have to like him a little 😂😂😂.
I have decided against playing the contrarian role any longer as my thoughts have been fully expressed and there is no need to hammer on them, especially not on this subject. Anyone who knows me on the hockey blog knows I’ve never talked anything about this subject over there, ever.
HHF4, thank you for staying strong. I will say, to everyone else, if someone passionately sees something, even if it’s something you don’t want to hear, don’t shoot the messenger too bad, now a little I understand. But, we would much rather not have to play this role. We greatly prefer cheering on this team, our favorite. We want to win as much as any of you. We only say these things out of a duty to honesty, duty to having integrity in our opinions even if generally unliked. In some ways I owe that to you all. I can and will easily continue to speak in euphemisms, I know the tricky language we navigate.
I have had my say in this area and will now close my chapter, on this.
That’s all it is you see something you don’t agree with you state your opinion that’s it! And it’s something very wrong with the way this team has drafted, overvalued its players, trades/lack thereof, lack of assets etc etc. in all honesty with the way this team is being ran it’s a problem. Like you also said why look at it with rose colored lens like the bottom feeders in each of these sports leagues which if shit doesn’t change in Mia they are also heading
True, just like you and I are civil even when we vehemently disagree,
Exactly. I wasn’t always as thoughtful, but I learned a few things over the years.
Wow. Look at all those A’s. What a terrible pick. 😉
I think Kevin O’Connor posts here lol. I’ll address his TO point. The kid was literally tasked with doing everything for the team so he pressed a lot, but he was almost getting a triple double every game. He was shooting 41% from 3 until he hurt his arm, then it dropped to 31%, but he was still taking 5 3’s a game. Add in his 85% FT and this kid can hit 3’s when he’s healthy. To ding the Heat because they wanted Clayton is the dumbest effing thing an “expert” can do.
Looking for some of his highlights, he seems to me as a pure shooter, with great mechanics and soft touch.
Yes, sir. You don’t shoot 85% from the FT line and not have feel and touch. That is always what we look at when trying to see if a big can develop an outside shot. What is his FT%?
I’m already hyped for summer league. Now that the 2nd round is a day later, my craving for UDFA signings is being delayed and I’m going through withdrawals. 😉
UDFA is long gone… I wonder what we can get out of undrafted players pool.
Yeah that is what I’m talking about, the undrafted free agents. We always find a good project in those signings. Because we have made those guys money, like a Duncan, Max and Gabe, we are a destination organization once the draft is over.
True, UD was undrafted, not late pick. My mistake.
Well according to some…white dudes are of no good coz mostly they’re unathletic.
I just realized the Hornets took two in the 1st round. Dang, this might actually be white boy summer. 😛
Every time discussing races on this forum, an ice cream comes to my mind. I wonder why.
Yup a poverty franchise like the hornets good comp dumass
Gringo
Quick give your top 5 goats of all time. Throw Larry bird up there cause he was never in your top 5
I made my thoughts very clear on other posts. I had to talk about things that no other team in the league has to discuss. Now is the time to hope for the best for this player and our team.
So, we have Dru, Mitchell and Kaspar runing the point. It cant be worse then last year, so I m not against it.
So no 1. Avoid Durants mistake is fulfiled.
So no 2. Get a PG and draft a good player is fulfilled.
No 3 get rid of vets and
no 4 play young players.
can be done during the season.
Job well done, Riley.
Not all will agree but I do share your view. But not the job well done…I say job not yet done Pat.
We’re not done, my friend. We are still in retool mode.
Wiggs to Lakers for Rui and Knecth…wait and see
I would love that, especially if we can get Knecht so we can add to the white guys lol 😛 😛 All jokes aside, he would be a Duncan replacement.
With this Kuminga smoke, we could be cooking.
Also, my early gut feeling is that Dru won’t be on the team by the start of the season. Jmo
trade cut or injured.