Heat will see familiar face in Summer League opener vs. Bucks

Kasparas Jakucionis — (Mandatory Credit: Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Miami Heat will compete in their first Las Vegas Summer League game Friday afternoon against the Milwaukee Bucks.

Ironically, this is the first official time the two teams will be pitted against one another since the Heat completed a blockbuster trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo, arguably the most accomplished player in Bucks franchise history.

The franchise-altering move netted the Bucks four players and three first-round picks. And one of those players will be suiting up for the Bucks’ inaugural Summer League affair.

Heat will see Kasparas Jakucionis for the first time since the trade:

At this time last year, former Heat guard Kasparas Jakucionis struggled mightily in the California Classic. But their No. 20 overall draft choice parlayed a few good performances in Las Vegas into a very strong rookie season.

The numbers don’t tell the whole story. In 53 games, Jakucionis, 20, averaged 6.2 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game. But he was one of the Heat’s most efficient 3-point shooters, burying 42.3 percent of his attempts, including 48.1 percent of his spot-up attempts, the third-best mark in the NBA of any player who attempted at least 100 spot-up tries.

Don’t be fooled by his 2.6 assists per game, either. Jakucionis is an incredibly gifted player. He’s very smart, instinctive and creative with both hands. Jakucionis was also a very good rebounder and point-of-attack defender — despite having below-average foot speed and screen navigation exiting Illinois.

If you told me the 6-foot-5 guard ended up being the best player in this deal when it’s all said and done, I would not be surprised. He’s still raw as a ballhandler and finisher, but he has the potential to be a fringe All-Star with the proper development.

I will be curious to see how the Bucks will utilize — from Friday onward. Miami’s Summer League team is led by second-round rookie Ryan Conwell Jahmir Young and Vladimir Goldin.