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Bobby Marks: I'm still in the belief it's Miami because when you look at Giannis Antetokounmpo, it's the superstar checklist of three things that Miami has here: It's the win-now player. When you look at a player like Tyler Herro, remember you've got to get to $47-48 million in salary just to send out. Herro makes $33 million as an expiring contract. Then you look at young players like Kel'el Ware Ware and Jaime Jaquez, two players on rookie deals. And then it's the draft picks. Remember, Milwaukeee's got the 10th pick in the draft. Miami's got the 13th pick in the draft. They can send two future picks in 30 and 32. They've got some swap rights here. So, I do think Miami's got right now the best package out there, but we've got to get some clarity here.
The Heat were aggressive in trying to land Giannis Antetokounmpo at the February trade deadline, when league sources say they thought a deal would get done before the Bucks ultimately backed away. This time around, with league sources indicating that the package is likely to include Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., either Pelle Larsson or Kasparas Jakučionis and draft capital (they can offer up to three first round picks), Miami is still widely seen as the frontrunner in the Antetokounmpo sweepstakes.
With the Heat among the teams most aggressively pursuing a trade for Milwaukee Bucks two-time NBA MVP and nine-time All-NBA forward Giannis Antetokounmpo this offseason, Jaquez has been among the names speculated to be in Miami’s potential trade package for Antetokounmpo. Jaquez was also involved in trade rumors connected to the Heat’s pursuit of Damian Lillard during the 2023 offseason, but Lillard was ultimately dealt to the Bucks shortly after Jaquez was drafted by Miami with the 18th overall pick that summer. “I feel like it’s just the way it is being on a Miami Heat team,” Jaquez said from the NBA House in São Paulo on Friday afternoon during a Zoom call with reporters. “I think that it’s kind of normal. I’ve been here for what, three years now? And every summer there’s a big rumor. So I’ve kind of just gotten used to it. It’s nice to get out of the country and see new things, and Brazil is beautiful.”
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Mutual interest between the Heat and Antetokounmpo isn't exactly headline-worthy. It's an open secret that Miami covets Giannis and, at the very least, boasts an array of young players (Kel'el Ware, Tyler Herro and Jaime Jaquez Jr.) and draft picks that should lead to substantive trade discussions with the Bucks. Meanwhile ... It is unclear, as Simmons noted during that podcast alongside Rob Mahoney, how much reciprocal Giannis interest Boston holds at this juncture. The Celtics indeed checked in with Milwaukee on Antetokounmpo before the February trade deadline when the Bucks were briefly open to fielding trade offers for their Face of the Franchise.
While the Heat failed to make the playoffs for the first time in seven years, forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. will be part of the NBA Finals, to be the featured guest during the NBA Finals at NBA House in Brazil. Jaquez, who joined the Heat the season after their trip to the 2023 NBA Finals, will be part of watch parties in Sao Paulo on June 5 and June 8.
NBA Communications: The three finalists for the 2025-26 Kia NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award: Tim Hardaway Jr., @nuggets Jaime Jaquez Jr., @MiamiHEAT Keldon Johnson, @spurs
Five Reasons Sports: Spoelstra on Jovic... says he should take from Jaquez Jr's bounce back. "Just get to work and improve on the things he needs to improve. Take it on his shoulders and he will be just fine. His skill set and size, that's not lost on any of us."
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A fraternity has sparked with players around the league championing the benefits of chess. While skill levels range, one thing remains constant: the centuries-old game offers a different perspective to on-court play. Current and former players emphasize that the strategic elements -- anticipating moves, recognizing patterns and staying one step ahead of an opponent -- translate from the chessboard to the hardwood. Lessons from losing also apply to life. Some NBA players have embraced chess publicly. Luka Doncic, Jaylen Brown and Jaime Jaquez Jr. have interactive bots on Chess.com that fans can challenge.
Pelle Larsson has one more season left on his first NBA contract, and it’s a team option worth $2.3 million for next season. Larsson becomes eligible to sign an extension with the Heat starting on July 6 after the Heat picks up the option in his contract ahead of the June 29 option deadline, and the window to sign an extension remains open until June 30, 2027. Larsson’s situation is just one of a few important extension decisions that the Heat’s front office will need to address in the coming months. Norman Powell is eligible for an extension from the Heat until June 30, and Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Tyler Herro become eligible for extensions this upcoming offseason. “Just being consistent, reliable,” Larsson said of how he views his role with the Heat. “On defense, not getting beat too many times and messing up things. Like really, I’m a relief player a lot of times. Like relief points on the offensive end and don’t allow any relief points on the defensive end. So, stay locked in and then get some cheap ones on the offensive end.”
