The Miami Heat believe they secured a steal in the 2025 NBA Draft when they selected Kasparas Jakucionis with the 20th overall pick. According to Keith Smith of Spotrac, a Heat front office executive said the team had the guard ranked “a heck of a lot higher” than where they ultimately picked him.
“I’m not going to tell you where he was on our board,” the executive told Smith, “but it was a heck of a lot higher than where we picked him!”
Jakucionis, 19, signed a four-year, $17.7 million contract with Miami on July 1 after completing his freshman season at Illinois. He averaged 15.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game in college while shooting 44% from the field and 32% from three-point range.
During Summer League, Jakucionis impressed with his competitiveness and willingness to improve. In three games in Las Vegas, he posted 15.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per contest while shooting 44.8% from the floor and 35.3% from deep.
“The great thing about Kas is that he wasn’t very good in California,” the executive continued, referring to his struggles earlier in the summer circuit. “And he was mad about that. Here (Las Vegas) he was much better. That’s what will work for him in the NBA. He’s not going to settle for anything other than being great.”
