The Miami Heat Are Already Reaping The Benefits Of An Unexpected Gift

The widespread expectation was for Kasparas Jakučionis to be a late lottery pick in this year’s NBA Draft. Maybe he’d slip slightly past pick No. 14. It seemed more likely he would hear his name called in the top 10.

Instead, Kasparas Jakučionis inexplicably fell to pick No. 20. An unexpected gift for the Miami Heat.

The face of the franchise is Bam Adebayo. However, Miami is quickly building an impressive young supporting cast. They’ve recently drafted Kel’el Ware, Nikola Jovic, Pelle Larsson, and Jaime Jaquez Jr. Jakučionis could quickly prove he’s the team’s best prospect.

In his Las Vegas Summer League debut, Jakučionis stuffed the stat sheet. The former Illinois standout registered 24 points, the most on the Heat. He made 7/12 shots, including 5/9 threes (55.6 percent). His two steals tied fellow rookie Asa Newell for the most in the matchup.

Jakučionis also grabbed four rebounds and dished out as many assists. With all due respect to Kobe Bufkin, who generated a game-high 29 points, Miami’s first-round pick was the best player on the floor.

“It was good to see him get his feet underneath him,” voiced Eric Glass, the Heat’s head coach at Summer League, after the game, per Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel. “He looked more himself. Hopefully we can continue to grow with that.”

He set the tone for a stellar performance by spinning his way into the paint, absorbing contact, and banking in a bucket while getting fouled.

Jakučionis finished the first frame with 14 points, including converting on the three shots he hoisted from behind the arc.

Post-game, after struggling in three apearances at the California Classic before venturing to Sin City, per Winderman, Jakučionis noted, “I think I was a little more aggressive on the offensive end.”

The six-foot-five guard also looked quite comfortable attacking downhill. His ability to knife his way into the paint was at the root of his creating quality opportunities for his teammates and finishing with four assists.

Kasparas Jakučionis shines, but the Heat fall short

While the 19-year-old from Lithuania starred, his team ended up in the loss column.

Miami held a 12-point lead with 5:44 left in the fourth quarter. What came next was a 14-0 run by the Atlanta Hawks. After a Jacob Toppin layup, the latter pulled in front, 90-89, with 3:51 remaining. The Heat never regained the lead, falling 105-98.

The final score of a Summer League contest is the epitome of inconsequential. It’s also worth cautioning that one should not overreact to an individual performance, good or bad.

While maintaining that perspective, what Jakučionis showcased is why many anticipated he’d be off the board well before the Heat came on the clock.

He dissected Atlanta’s defense. And despite questions about his consistency as a shooter, even a Hawks defender getting a hand in Jakučionis’s face didn’t faze him.

It was a dynamic debut for Kasparas Jakučionis to build off in Las Vegas, and after the Heat’s first-round pick departs from Sin City.