Regardless of the scouting report, Jaime Jaquez Jr. of the Miami Heat is consistently described using the same few words: winning plays, physical, tough, and a sense of the game.
These statements may just as easily have come from the Heat’s mission statement. The Heat knew they were picking Jaquez, who fit their mentality, with the No. 18 choice in the June draft. According to the pre-draft article on NBA.com, here is a more basketball-focused scouting report on the 22-year-old forward:
Jaquez is a strong and good-sized forward. He can create his own shot or find looks for his teammates thanks to superb post-footwork. Jaquez is a deft finisher, but he has also demonstrated the ability to venture outside for midrange and three-point jump shots. He is an intelligent defender who is skilled at identifying passing lanes.
The Heat think Jaquez can gain a spot in the rotation as early as this year. He possesses the size to support Jimmy Butler at small forward at 6-foot-7 and 225 pounds. He demonstrated his shooting and passing prowess in the Summer League and demonstrated that he is an NBA-ready defender who can occasionally convert steals into simple scores in transition.
There is room for improvement in Jaquez’s career 3-point shooting (32.8% at UCLA) and free-throw percentage (73.7%), and there will undoubtedly be a learning curve in the NBA.
The Miami Heat recently encountered Christian Braun, a rookie forward for the Denver Nuggets who had a significant impact on the NBA Finals. It’s uncommon for a rookie to have such an influence, but the Heat are hoping Jaquez can have the same effect on them.
Jaime Jaquez Jr.
Position: Forward
Ht./Wt.: 6-7/225
College: UCLA
Years pro: Rookie
2022-23: 17.8 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 33.2 minutes (college)
Contract status: In first year of four-year, $17 million deal ($3.5 million this season)