Seven analysts assess what Heat is getting in Illinois point guard Kasparas Jakucionis

Miami Herald

3 days ago

Feedback on the Heat's selection of 6-6 Illinois point guard Kasparas Jakucionis, who had been widely projected as a late lottery pick and averaged 15.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists and shot 44 percent from the field in his one season at Illinois, but also committed too many turnovers (3.7 per game) and shot just 31.8 percent on threes (54 for 170):
▪ ESPN's Jay Bilas: This guy has a ton of skill. Another guard with positional size that's really good in pick and roll situations. Very skilled. Excellent footwork. Pressure tended to bother him a little bit, especially toward end of the season. Didn't have some of his better games in last 10, 14 games. Such a good passer. Only problem he is hHad 123 turnovers, that was fifth most in Division 1.
'You put him in pick and roll situation. His vision is really impressive. He plays with pace. He can de-celerate. I think he's much better shooter than his numbers indicated. He wound up shooting 33 percent on threes.He struggled over the last portion of the season. But hHis coach Brad Underwood feels he's going to be a better NBA player than he was a college player. He's got a really good feel for the game and a really good feel for reading situations.
▪ ESPN lead draft analyst Jonathan Givony: 'I had [him] as the 11th player on my big board. This is a slide for him. The Heat needs a ball handler, playmaker in the worst possible way. He's the best pick and roll playmaker in this draft.
'Think of a cross between Austin Reeves and Andrew Nehmard. Great size for a guard. Can play 1, 2 or 3. Shot maker, brings real toughness, a competitor. This is going to be a a great pick for Miami, who doesn't traditionally draft international players. This is an awesome pick for the Heat.
▪ ESPN analyst and former Warriors general manager Bob Myers: 'Size, handle. Erik Spoelstra demands defense. He is going to have to become better at that. Some people had this guy very high on the draft. The Heat has a great track record for drafting and developing.'
▪ ESPN draft analyst Jeremy Woo: 'Most [projected] him in the range of 11 to 14. Jakucionis' unselfishness, playmaking and size, enabling him to play on and off the ball, make him a relatively seamless fit in most places with upside long-term considering he recently turned 19.'
▪ The Ringer's Kyle Mann: aJkucionis fits a flattering Euro stereotype for guards in that he has an almost joyous bobbing rhythm in the way he moves with the ball—a command for starting and stopping that really puts defenders in a less joyous place. Jakucionis, despite having credible size for his position, isn't exceptionally long or blazingly fast. He does, however, have a low center of gravity and can be very quick from side to side or in situations when he suddenly bursts to attack after lulling his man into a spot.
'Jakucionis is also a fantastic passer. He's able to consistently survey where his open teammate is or is about to be, where in the defense he needs to sell a fake, what type of fake that should be, and finally, what type of pass should be the solution. I don't penalize a prospect for experimentation (I love it, actually), and that's why I don't really grind my teeth over Jakucionis's ugly turnover percentage (second highest among the 164 players who posted 150 or more pick-and-roll reps). For one, he was battling a nagging forearm injury for nearly half the season...
'Ultimately, Jakucionis's success at the next level will live or die with his credibility as a scorer, and while I don't think he is an 'If it's in the air, jog the other way' type of marksman, I'm optimistic he'll be a consistent threat as a shooter. Through January 1 (so, pre-injury), Jakucionis was hitting 41.4 of his 3s, and the types of attempts varied—a blend of stepbacks in isolation and dribble pull-ups in the pick-and-roll and catch-and-shoot looks. Post-injury, his self-created 3s dried up almost entirely, which I suspect was a result of that injury to his nonshooting forearm.
'Beyond that, the craft in his middle game could definitely stand to progress and evolve, but he's great when he gets to the rim. When he isn't finishing at the basket (71.7 percent there), he relishes contact, which allows him to be a foul-generating machine. I expect his broad-shouldered frame to become a useful hammer in the paint by his mid-20s.'
▪ The Athletic's John Hollinger, a former Grizzlies executive:
'This is a bit of a slide for Jakučionis, who was seen by many as a potential top-10 pick, but I also think it's a more realistic landing spot for a guy who probably projects as a combo guard off the bench more than a long-term starter.
'Miami could use a guy like him, though, because he can handle the ball and shoot stepback 3s; he offers a nice contrast in the backcourt to defensive bulldog Davion Mitchell.'
▪ The Athletic's Sam Vecenie: 'Think of something in this respect like a better passing Bogdan Bogdanovic, who has averaged 14 points per game over eight years in the NBA and has also been sneaky awesome in the playoffs and big international events.
'Jakučionis is also a truly special passer who I hope continues to work on his craft as a ballhandler to get separation from his man consistently without turning the ball over and feeling rushed. There would be some really high-upside outcomes in his profile if that ever happened. My read is to bet on him being more of a great secondary ballhandler who can play with and help your starters while also running second units, but don't discount the potential for more.'
As ESPN noted, there were two freshmen who averaged at least 15 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists: Jakucionis and Cooper Flagg, who went first overall to Dallas.