The Miami Heat have reached the playoffs in six consecutive seasons and made two NBA Finals appearances during this span. Heading into the offseason, it’s clear the Heat are looking to retool their roster on the fly and have no intention of breaking up their core for a rebuild.
After last season’s Jimmy Butler drama and his subsequent trade to the Golden State Warriors, Miami entered the 2025 NBA Draft looking to surround All-Stars Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro with fresh talent.
Miami Heat Score Potential Draft Heist With Kasparas Jakučionis
With the No. 20 pick in this year’s draft, Miami selected Kasparas Jakučionis from the University of Illinois. Heat president Pat Riley, the architect behind Miami’s title runs, has seen it all, from titles to superstars. But after selecting Jakučionis, the veteran executive couldn’t hold back his excitement. He stood up, pointed around the team’s draft war room, and smiled with front office officials and coaching staff.
Pat Riley looked happy with the pick. pic.twitter.com/JRWJMSW21f
— Will Manso (@WillManso) June 26, 2025
Jakučionis was named to the All-Big Ten and Big Ten All-Freshman teams during his lone season at Illinois after averaging 15 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.7 assists. The guard was widely viewed as a late lottery pick and unexpectedly fell into Miami’s lap.
Without Butler, Miami desperately needed to add a playmaker to the rotation, and in Jakučionis, it potentially found a guard with strong court vision and a natural feel for floor spacing. He isn’t an explosive athlete by any stretch, and the incoming rookie will also have to earn head coach Erik Spoelstra’s trust on the defensive end to play consistent minutes at the pro level.
Most analysts pegged Jakučionis in the 11-14 range during the pre-draft process, but concerns lingered about his late-season slump and turnover volume, especially with defenses pressuring him more aggressively.
MORE: 2025 NBA Draft Live Results
Some teams questioned if he was a long-term starter or better suited for a combo role off the bench. Others wondered how quickly he could adjust defensively to NBA physicality, particularly under a coach like Spoelstra, whose standards are high and can be tough on young talent.
Even with the turnover concerns (he coughed it up an alarming 3.7 times per game as a freshman), believers in Jakučionis’ game praise his passing creativity and believe he’s one of the most instinctive facilitators in this year’s class.
The Heat see Jakučionis’ flaws as development opportunities and view him as a player who can play on or off the ball, initiate offense or space the floor, break down defenses, or hit weak-side cutters.
At just 19 years old, Jakučionis has tools that most guards spend years trying to refine. He’ll benefit from landing in a demanding Heat system known for turning overlooked players into franchise cornerstones. That’s the kind of bet Riley likes to make and perhaps the main reason for the outward display of excitement on draft night.
