The Miami Heat selected Illinois guard Kasparas Jakučionis with the 20th pick in the NBA Draft on Wednesday night, and hope he is their new point guard of the future. His selection is the first guard Miami has picked in the first round since Tyler Herro in 2019.
Jakučionis will look to compete immediately as the team’s starting point guard, with there being no real set starter at the position. Despite this, Miami’s guard rotation is talented with Herro and Davion Mitchell.
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In his lone year at Illinois, Jakučionis scored 15 points per game, but did so inefficiently, only shooting 44% from the field and 31.8% from three on over five attempts a game.
His size at 6’ 6”, as well as his skills as a true point guard, allowed him to be a contributor despite this. Jakučionis grabbed over five rebounds and almost five assists per game.
The Lithuanian was named Third Team All-Big Ten and to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team, along with the Magic’s first round pick Jase Richardson.
With a strong start to his career in the US, Jakučionis will look to improve at the NBA level. With high offensive upside, the 19-year-old could develop into a great shooter with good court vision.
In the pre-draft process, Jakučionis was compared to former Heat great Goran Dragić and current Laker Austin Reaves. If he can become even half the player they were, the pick will be a success.