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5d ago

Heat Sign No. 20 Pick Kasparas Jakucionis to Four-Year, $17.7 Million Deal as Front Office Comes Under Fire

The rookie-scale agreement highlights Miami’s youth-driven approach under a front office that has faced scrutiny over recent draft choices

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Illinois guard Kasparas Jakucionis poses for a photo with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected 20th by the Miami Heat in the first round of the NBA basketball draft, Wednesday, June 25, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Pat Riley
Feb 8, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini forward Will Riley (7) and guard Kasparas Jakucionis (32) celebrate during the second half against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Williams Arena. © Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

Overview

  • The Heat selected 6-foot-6 guard Kasparas Jakucionis with the 20th pick after he averaged 15.0 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game at Illinois.
  • Jakucionis agreed to a four-year, $17.7 million rookie-scale contract that carries a $3.7 million salary in 2025-26 and two guaranteed seasons.
  • Vice president Adam Simon praised Jakucionis’s ballhandling, playmaking instincts and toughness despite flagged concerns about his three-point shot and turnover frequency.
  • CBS Sports analyst Adam Finkelstein hailed the pick as “terrific value,” while NBA insider Kevin O’Connor slammed Pat Riley’s draft leadership and assigned the selection a D+ grade.
  • The move underscores Miami’s strategy of adding cost-controlled talent through the draft even as some observers question the decision to pass on prospects such as Walter Clayton Jr.