The NBA can be a cruel world.
The Miami Heat stole headlines Monday night — less than 24 hours ahead of the 2026 NBA Draft — by snagging Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Milwaukee Bucks in a six-player blockbuster trade.
But not everyone found out by incessantly refreshing social media, awaiting Shams Charania’s earth-shattering notification.
Jaime Jaquez Jr., one of the four Miami Heat players involved in the deal, found out … at the gym, checking someone else’s phone.
Jaquez has provided some hilarious moments when it comes to trades over the years. Take his Jimmy Butler trade reaction (mid-game), for example:
The Heat acquired Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis in exchange for Kel’el Ware, Kasparas Jakucionis, Tyler Herro and Jaquez — a Sixth Man of the Year Finalist last season. The Bucks also added three first-round picks (including No. 13 overall), plus one first-round pick swap and one second-round pick.
At the end of the day, it’s a business. It’s a cruel, unforgiving business.
You have to give something to get something. Miami poorly planned for Antetokounmpo, but it desperately needed a premier star. It only knows how to build around a star, at the end of the day.
Given his slashing, rebounding, improved playmaking and looming contract extension, Jaquez, 25, was one of those pieces consolidated. For him, it’s unfortunate. Perhaps he continues to thrive in greener pastures, which would be awesome to see.
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I always loved Jamie. He was the one that inspired the thing I call the “reverse assist”, when you get yourself open under the basket and wait for someone to pass you the ball. He was also a brilliant passer himself, and when he was on the court with Kevin Love plus a proper point guard, they would really get that ball pinging all over the court.
I think there was one game when Butler and Herro were both injured and the Heat tied the record for most assists in franchise history. That is what I’ll always think of with Jamie Jr. I wish him the best in his career