In one of the biggest surprises of the 2025 NBA Draft, the Miami Heat may have pulled off the steal of the night and perhaps the entire draft by selecting Lithuanian guard Kasparas Jakucionis with the 20th overall pick. Once viewed as a consensus top-10 prospect and mocked as high as No. 3 in some mock drafts, Jakucionis unexpectedly slid down the board, and the Heat didn’t hesitate to pounce.
Jakucionis, a 6-foot-6 playmaker who starred at Illinois after coming over from FC Barcelona, brings an advanced European feel, size, and versatility to Miami’s backcourt. He averaged 15.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game while earning All-Big Ten honors all as a freshman. That statistical profile, especially alongside his high IQ and creative passing, has drawn comparisons to Chauncey Billups, Goran Dragic, and even a better-passing version of Bogdan Bogdanović.
Strengths: A Modern-Day Big Guard
What makes Jakucionis such an exciting talent is his feel for the game. He’s a masterful pick-and-roll operator who understands pace, angles, and timing better than most 10-year vets. He sees the floor brilliantly, delivers passes with anticipation and touch, and keeps his dribble alive under pressure. His game has a distinct rhythm one scout described his movement as having a “joyous bobbing rhythm” which allows him to control the tempo on his terms.
Offensively, he’s polished. He can score at all three levels, is excellent at finishing through contact (71.7% at the rim), and shot over 42% from deep during a dominant late-season stretch. He also knocked down 84.5% of his free throws, a strong indicator of his shooting potential. His unselfishness and ability to run an offense make him a natural fit for Erik Spoelstra’s system, which thrives on high-IQ ball movement and spacing.
Jakucionis’s rebounding (5.7 RPG) is impressive for a guard, and he uses his sturdy frame to box out and extend possessions. Defensively, he’s not elite, but he’s intelligent and uses his wingspan to disrupt passing lanes.
Growth Areas : Athleticism and Turnovers
Jakucionis’s draft-day slide can be traced to concerns about his athletic ceiling. He’s not explosive, lacks a quick first step, and doesn’t possess the lateral quickness to stay in front of elite NBA guards. While his skill and basketball IQ helps him compensate, there are questions about how he’ll create space against faster, more physical defenders.
Turnovers are also a concern. Jakucionis led the Big Ten in giveaways (3.7 per game), often trying to force high-risk passes or getting stripped due to a high dribble. His decision-making under pressure can falter, especially when trying to thread the needle in crowded situations. Scouts believe with more time to adjust to NBA pace and spacing, these issues can be corrected, especially under Miami’s player development staff.
Fit In Heat System
The Heat didn’t even work Jakucionis out because they didn’t expect him to be available at No. 20. But when he was available, they trusted their board and took a swing on a player who fits both their need for a ball-handling playmaker and their culture of toughness and high basketball IQ.
“We tried to get him in, but they didn’t think he would be there at twenty,” Heat VP Adam Simon said. “We’re really happy. Kas is going to come in and fit.”
Jakucionis slots into a growing young core that includes Nikola Jović, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and Kel’el Ware all recent first-round picks. With the Heat reportedly exploring roster transitions, including the possibility of a post-Jimmy Butler era, Jakucionis gives Miami a potential foundational piece. He can start as a second-unit floor general behind Tyler Herro or slide into combo-guard minutes alongside Bam Adebayo and Herro in staggered lineups.
Spoelstra will challenge him to defend, but the Heat believe in their system’s ability to elevate defensive buy-in. If Jakucionis can improve his foot speed and clean up his decision-making, he could become the full-package lead guard that has the potential to become a high- level starter in the NBA with All- Star potential.
Final Grade:
You don’t often land a projected lottery talent one with legit playmaking upside and size at No. 20. Jakucionis checks nearly every box for what a modern NBA offense needs in a lead guard: size, basketball IQ, shooting potential, and creativity. His weaknesses are real, but they’re developmental not foundational and is in the perfect organization to help him reach his potential.
For a Heat franchise known for its ability to maximize undervalued talent, this was a slam dunk. Miami drafted a stud and now have a slew of young assets and impact players heading into 2026 free agency where they are expected to have cap room to land a superstar.
Grade: A+
Steal of the Draft and Miami’s Point Guard of the Future.
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