Miami Heat exercise No. 18 pick in Thursday’s NBA draft

MIAMI – Less than two weeks after their season came to an end with a Game 5 loss to the Denver Nuggets in the NBA Finals, the Miami Heat turned to the future at Thursday’s NBA draft with the selection of UCLA swingman Jaime Jaquez Jr. with the No. 18 choice.

Because the NBA does not reseed teams based on playoff results, the Heat wound up picking in the middle of the first round in the wake of closing the 2022-23 regular season at 44-38.

For the Heat, the addition of 22-year-old Jaquez adds to a youth component that also includes 20-year-old 2022 first-round pick Nikola Jovic, who went No. 27 last season.

A second-team All-America and the Pac-12 Player of the Year, Jaquez averaged 17.8 points last season as a senior for the Bruins on .481 shooting from the field, but just .317 on 3-pointers.

Unlike last year’s selection of Jovic, it was more of a veteran draft move for the Heat.

“I have a lot of experience,” Jaquez said shortly after he was drafted. “That’s what I told teams.”

According to NBA’s scouting report, “Jaquez has good size and strength for a forward. He has good footwork in the post and can create his own shot or generate looks for his teammates. Jaquez is a crafty finisher but has also shown the ability to step outside for jump shots from the midrange and three. He is a smart defender who is adept at reading passing lanes.”

That scouting report at the league’s website offered a projection of, “Jaquez will likely begin his career competing for playing time but has the potential to develop into a quality bench player. His game has shades of Rui Hachimura and Anthony Lamb due to his strong rebounding profile and ability to finish around the rim.”