MIAMI — For the first time since 2005, the Miami Heat have made a first-round pick in the NBA draft for a fourth consecutive year.

The streak of selections continued Wednesday night with the Heat selecting Illinois guard Kasparas Jakucionis at the No. 20 draft slot acquired from the Golden State Warriors at the Feb. 6 NBA trading deadline in the Jimmy Butler trade.

The addition of the 6-foot-6 passing playmaker who was expected to go earlier, viewed as a potential lottery pick, continues a youth movement of Heat first-round selections Nikola Jovic (2022), Jaime Jaquez Jr. (2023) and Kel’el Ware (2024).

“I think it was important for us to make this pick tonight,” said Adam Simon, the Heat’s Vice President, Basketball Operations/Assistant General Manager. “I think we’re really happy with the young players we have.

“I think Kas is going to come in and fit.”

The last time the Heat made first-round selections in four consecutive years was when they went with Caron Butler in 2002, Dwyane Wade in 2003, Dorell Wright in 2004 and Wayne Simien in 2005.

“I’m so excited,” Jakucionis said from the draft at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, downplaying his fall to No. 20.  “I’m just grateful for this moment to be in this place with this opportunity to get my name called. It’s special for me. That was what I was working for all my life since I was little and that was my dream. But now this is just the beginning and everything starts from new.”

A clear sign of his unexpected fall was acknowledgement that he did not work out for the Heat ahead of the draft.

“We tried to get him in, but they didn’t think he would be there at twenty,” Simon said.

As for the fall from the lottery range, Simon said, “I think looking at this draft it was a little unpredictable who would go higher or lower.”

Among the comps with Jakucionis has been to former Heat guard Goran Dragic.

“The playmaking ability is what I do,” Jakucionis said. “I’m just grateful to play with guys like (Bam) Adebayo. We can play together in pick-and-rolls. And Tyler Herro and all those kinds of players. I’m just very happy and grateful to be in this place.”

As noted by ESPN, Jakucionis was one of two freshmen this past season to average at least 15 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists, with No. 1 overall picks Cooper Flagg the other.

“What he has is a toughness to him,” Simon said. “He has an edge.”

The Heat’s own pick Wednesday night previously had been dealt, with the Oklahoma City Thunder utilizing that No. 15 selection on Georgetown big man Thomas Sorber.

Going ahead of the Heat’s selection at No. 20 were Flagg, Dylan Harper. V.J. Edgecombe, Kon Knueppel, Ace Bailey, Tre Johnson, Jeremiah Fears, Egor Demin, Collin Murray-Boyles, Khaman Maluach, Cedric Coward, Noa Essengue, Derik Queen, Carter Bryant, Sorber, Hansen Yang, Joan Beringer, Walter Clayton Jr. and Nolan Traore,

Clayton, who went to the Utah Jazz at No. 18, was among those who had strongly been linked to the Heat ahead of the draft.

Among those also still on the board when the Heat selected at No. 20 were Liam McNeeley, Jase Richardson, Nique Clifford, Ben Saraf, Danny Wolf, Will Riley, Ryan Kalkbrenner, Asa Newell, Rasheer Fleming, Drake Powell and Maxime Raynaud.

The scouting report at NBA.com ahead of the draft on Jakučionis read, “An adept playmaker capable of scoring or passing from anywhere on the floor. At 6-foot-6 with good footwork, feel for the game and shooting touch, he can play many roles, including that of a primary playmaker. He easily sets up his teammates, threading the needle for easy scoring opportunities. Despite not being an elite athlete, Jakučionis can also create his shot with quality dribbling, hesitation moves and a developing stepback jumper. His understanding of angles and advantages allowed him to average 5.1 free throw attempts per game. On defense, he isn’t elite but is solid enough to thrive in a scheme.”

Of Jakucionis,  ESPN evaluated ahead of the draft, “Among the most polished pick-and-roll playmakers in this class, Jakucionis flashed a promising blend of size, feel, vision and toughness for much of the season. Though the scrutiny of carrying an offense through the rigorous Big Ten slate at 18 years old took a toll on him at times, the talent he flashed in his brightest moments leaves considerable room for optimism around his NBA transition.”

Of Jakucionis,  Yahoo’s scouting report read, “A slick shot-creator with a creative passing gene and a fearless scoring ability, carving up defenses with crafty finishes, step-back jumpers, and jaw-dropping passes. But as a freshman he’d follow up those highlights with turnover brain-farts that derail the hype train.”

And in its scouting report, The Athletic wrote, “Jakučionis is a tremendously skilled basketball player, who can dribble, pass, shoot, process the game at a high level and has good positional size.  Think of something in this respect like a better passing Bogdan Bogdanovic. Jakučionis is also a truly special passer.”

In the NBA’s draft guide, Illinois teammate Ben Humrichous was quoted as saying of Jakucionis, “It’s really fun to play with KJ. He has a really, really great knack for finding shooters when they’re open. If you watch him, he does a really great job of manipulating the defense with his eyes. When you’re with KJ, it’s just always staying ready – ready to shoot.”

On a night there had been an expected flurry of trades, possibly including the Heat at No. 20, those largely were limited to moves involving draft selections, current and future.

 

The Heat currently do not have a selection in Thursday night’s second round, with that pick dealt in 2019 to the Indiana Pacers in a draft-night deal for second-round pick KZ Okpala, who currently is out of the NBA.

The second round of the draft, back at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, begins at 8 p.m. Thursday.

For now, it’s about Jakucionis.

“I know the development part is really good there,” he said of the Heat staff. “I think I can improve a lot there. I just need to trust in the process, trust to make the team better, trust to win as much as we can and I’m ready to work.”

Originally Published: June 25, 2025 at 10:39 PM EDT