As Wednesday night’s first round of the 2025 NBA Draft has come to a close, the Miami Heat scouting department wound up with another potential steal. With the 20th overall pick, Adam Simon, Pat Riley and company selected European combo guard Kasparas Jakucionis.
Many around the league have publicly pondered how Jakucionis even fell to Miami that low in the draft. He was projected to be a lottery pick by several of the national media outlets.
Instead, the Heat may have gotten their point guard of the future.
Jakucionis early scouting report has him featured as a talented playmaker. His offensive vision is his greatest attribute, as he dished out a Euro-league record 17 assists in a game a while back.
For Illinois last season, the 6-foot-6 guard put up 15.0 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game on 44% shooting. Only he and number one overall pick Cooper Flagg sported those types of all-around numbers. Jakucionis was named to the All-Big Ten Freshman Team and the All-Big Ten Third Team.
Simon mentioned that he and the Heat front office “didn’t think he would be there” for Miami to select at 20th overall.
The Miami Heat are assembling a young and skilled core to build on moving forward.
Following the Heat’s failed trade pursuit of Kevin Durant, many wondered what direction the organization was going for. They are too good to completely tank and rebuild, which is also something the organization doesn’t do. But they are too bad to be a contender in the weaker Eastern Conference, as well.
Riley opting to hold onto this Jakucionis draft selection, rather than dangle it in a trade package, only adds more fuel to the youth movement type of direction for the franchise.
Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro are the two All-Star’s entering the early stages of their prime years. Adebayo is 27 years old as Herro is still 25, and they each seem to be in this for the long haul.
That’s where the under 25 years old group gets intriguing for the Heat, which includes Kel’el Ware, Nikola Jovic, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Pelle Larsson, Keshad Johnson and now Jakucionis.
“I’m so happy to be part of the Miami culture.”
”Like I said before, it’s all about toughness and winning. I want that. That’s what basketball is about and that’s how you succeed. I think I can fit in pretty well, just playing with Bam in pick-and-rolls, share the ball, playmake & find open shooters like Tyler Herro. I’m so happy to be here.”
— Kasparas Jakucionis in his Draft night press conference
Now when it comes to Jakucionis’ immediate role in the Heat rotation next season, that’s where things get interesting. Coach Erik Spoelstra always tend to have a short leash on recent draft picks, especially someone as young Jakucionis at just 19 years old.
But the skill set, similar to Ware last season, is just too helpful and intriguing to not explore as quickly as possible.
The Heat haven’t had a true consistent playmaking point guard arguably since Goran Dragic. And the possibilities for easier scoring opportunities from the Adebayo-Ware front court duo looks endless with a passer of Jakucionis’ caliber.
***
To check out our other content, click here.
Follow Hot Hot Hoops on Twitter/X here!
Follow Hot Hot Hoops on Instagram here!
Subscribe to our YouTube channel here!
- Why the Miami Heat should take a flyer on Richaun Holmes
- 2025 NBA Summer League: Miami Heat (0-2) vs. Boston Celtics (2-0) Gamethread
- 8 former Heat players make Bleacher Report’s top-100
- 2025 NBA Summer League: Miami Heat (0-1) vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (1-1) Gamethread
- Latest Heat acquisition is another extension-eligible question they must solve
rumors has it Wiggins for Hacimura, Knecht and another player.
I m not against it.
I like it but was trying to make it work on the NBA trade machine and I think I broke my brain. I think a 3rd team might have to get involved.
Sun, you are an expert at that thing. Want to give it a go? 😉
I agree. Every permutation I tried was rejected for one side or the other, in part because the Lakers used a $14 million exception.
I’m glad I’m not the only one who chased his tail on that trade lol
You were really good last year with players who might go undrafted. Any thoughts this post draft?
Selfishly I was hoping for Will Richards to not get drafted, but it just happened.
I haven’t done as much research this season for guys in the second round since we didn’t have a pick like last year, hello nailed Pelle & KJ. 😉 But these are two guys I like, roll of the dice, for different reasons.
Backup big in Viktor Lakhin. Smart guy. Injuries are a concern. Plus, he’s white. I heard that was all the rage.
My dude who is a serious project but have all the faith in the world the Heat could turn him in to a contributor at the wing, Dink Pate.
I’ll try to do more tonight as we try to sign UDFA’s, but I would love those two for summer league.
I’ve seen some of dink pate on shaq’s new show on Netflix, he appears outgoing, explosive, good handle, has 6’8 size, shooting is a work in progress, but seems talented. He was the youngest player ever signed in the g league at 17, also Shaq gave him a reebok shoe deal, which means he see some potential In him. So I agree with your thoughts about him.
Smart and white.
Enough of those already.
We need …… ok.. I shouldn’t say that.
Sorry to both, but this trade looks off at least for Lakers.
Hacimura played well for them, Knecth is a good shooter. They dont need a small forward, they need centers.
“The Heat haven’t had a true playmaking point guard arguably since Goran Dragic”
Kyle Lowry is *very* confused by this assertion, but okay.
I’m with 2q, below. Rozier is obviously dead weight now, and I don’t know what’s going on with Wiggins but it sounds like there’s discord between him and front office. Drop those contracts for a Kuminga or a Knecht (or both?), and we’ve got a solid rebuild team without ever having to blow things up or tank. And we can keep the core of Bam-Herro-Duncan that brought us to the Finals twice in five years.
I’ve been saying this for a while. I know Riley is not going to have a fire sale and blow everything up. The path he is apparently pursuing is to systematically upgrade the caliber of the overall team through drafts and trades. I can see him trading players who are not part of the team’s long range plans for younger players with potential (e.g., Kusinga, etc.). I’m sure there will be markets for most of the players on expiring contracts before the trade deadline. Worse case scenario, their contracts will expire at the end of the season freeing up money to bring in other players. I have also voiced my support for trading Herro for a good two-way player, such as Dejounte Murray. Hell who knows, with the youth movement going on in New Orleans, maybe the Heat can trade for two Pelicans, Murray and Williamson.
P.S. I’m sure decisions will also be made about which players on rookie contracts to keep (e.g., Jovic, Jaquez, Larsson, Johnson, etc.) by the end of next season.
1st round picks: Bam-Herro-Niko-JJJ-Ware and Kaspar
They also own their pick next season, so if you play the young guys for experience, but maybe someone unfortunately gets hurt like Bam or Herro, you have an insurance policy in the name of a lottery pick.
Now get something for Wiggins and Terry, and this will be a good off-season, all things considered (Jimmy poop).
Agreed. Throw Robinson, Anderson, Highsmith and Love in too.