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Lithuania has announced a preliminary 14-man roster for the upcoming World Cup qualifying window in August, which notably excludes several of the team's stars. The most prominent absences include Domantas Sabonis (Sacramento Kings), Matas Buzelis (Chicago Bulls), Kasparas Jakucionis (Milwaukee Bucks), and Jonas Valanciunas (Zalgiris Kaunas).
The Heat, however, are a little thin after they traded four young players -- Herro, Ware, Jaquez Jr. and Jakucionis -- for Antetokounmpo and lost Powell in free agency. LeBron James' focus on picking the team best positioned to win a title might have negatively affected the Heat's standing. (And no, their YouTube gaffe didn't play a role in this decision.)
Speaking during the Las Vegas Summer League, Kasparas Jakucionis recalled how he learned about the trade while representing Lithuania in the 2027 FIBA World Cup qualifiers. "I was with the Lithuanian national team and was just waking up in the morning," Jakucionis told Mundo Deportivo. "The trade happened at around 6 a.m. Lithuanian time. I woke up at 8, saw the messages from my agent and everything else, and that's how I found out."
Now, Ware can continue his growth alongside three former Heat teammates in Milwaukee. The Heat traded guard Tyler Herro, forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. and guard Kasparas Jakucionis along with Ware to the Bucks. “That helps out a lot more,” Ware said of being traded to the Bucks with Herro, Jaquez and Jakucionis. “Some guys, they get traded by themselves. So I would say it helps to have three guys with me.”
Instead of dealing Jovic in the Antetokounmpo deal, the Heat traded guard Tyler Herro, forward Jaime Jaquez Jr., guard Kasparas Jakucionis, center Kel’el Ware and a haul of draft capital to the Milwaukee Bucks to acquire Antetokounmpo and veteran forward Bobby Portis. “I was happy that I stayed,” Jovic said after going through a workout on Wednesday in Las Vegas, where the Heat and the rest of the NBA are spending the next few weeks for summer league. “I thought I was probably not going to be here. But I’m really happy. Obviously, not only because I’m going to share the court and play with [Antetokounmpo], but I’m also happy that I’m going to be able to learn from one of the greatest power forwards ever. The way he lives, the way he treats basketball, and stuff like that. “
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It also just so happens that the Heat opens Las Vegas Summer League against the Bucks on Friday (4 p.m., WPLG Local 10 and Prime Video) at Thomas & Mack Center on UNLV’s campus, and Jakucionis was added to the Bucks’ summer league roster for Las Vegas after spending time with the Lithuanian national team last week. “It’s going to be competitive,” Heat assistant coach and summer league head coach Wayne Ellington said with a smile on Wednesday regarding a potential matchup against Jakucionis. “Yeah, we still love him. He was great for us in terms of being as coachable as he is and willing to work. But this is the NBA. So we’ll see him on the other side, and we’re going to compete.”
It remains to be seen whether Jakucionis will play against the Heat in Friday’s summer league contest since he just returned from playing overseas for his national team and is still finding his footing following the trade to the Bucks. But those on the Heat’s summer league roster who were Jakucionis’ Heat teammates last season hope he’s on the court Friday. “That first game is going to be fun,” said Heat summer league guard Trevor Keels, who closed last season on a two-way contract with Miami. “I know the fans and everybody is excited for that game. I hope he plays. We haven’t seen him because he was playing with the Lithuanian team. I’m just happy to see him. Hopefully he plays. It’s good to play against him. He’s a hell of a player. So it’ll be good for us.”
Jakucionis ended his first NBA regular season averaging 6.2 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game while shooting 42.9% from the field and 42.3% from three-point range. The Heat outscored teams by three points per 100 possessions when he was on the court last regular season. “I love Kas. He reached out to all of us,” Keels continued. “We’ve been talking to him. I used to love going against him in practices, workouts. He’s the ultimate competitor. He stays in the gym. I learned a lot from him, and he’s younger than me. His work ethic is unbelievable. Sometimes we have to tell him to get out of the gym just because he loves the gym.”
Ira Windhorst: Bucks GM Jon Horst, "We're excited to welcome Tyler Herro, Kel'el Ware, Jaime Jaquez and Kasparas Jakucionis to Bucks basketball. Each brings talent, versatility, competitiveness and a team-first mentality that builds our culture and identity."
Your Miami HEAT announced today that they have acquired NBA Champion, Two-Time NBA MVP and 10-time NBA All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo and NBA Champion Bobby Portis Jr. from the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for Tyler Herro, Kasparas Jakučionis, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel’el Ware, three first round picks (2026, 2031 & 2033), a 2030 first round pick swap and a 2033 second round pick. “The announcement of today’s trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis Jr. is one of the great trades in HEAT history,” said HEAT President Pat Riley. “In my opinion, Giannis is one of the top five players in the league and Bobby is one of the best power forwards. The difficult part is trading Tyler, Kasparas, Jaime and Kel’el who have given so much to this organization, we wish them nothing but the best. I also want to thank the Arison’s for their continued pursuit towards winning a championship and we feel this gives us a better opportunity moving forward. I want to welcome Giannis and Bobby to the Miami HEAT family.”
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Ira Winderman: “Agreed to terms" becomes terms today at 12:01 p.m. in NBA at end of signing moratorium. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis become Heat today, as does Tim Hardaway Jr., while Herro, Ware, Jakucionis, Jaquez and Powell become ex-Heat.
Multiple NBA sources confirmed to the Sun Sentinel that an earlier construct of the Heat’s proposal for Giannis Antetokounmpo included Davion Mitchell instead of Kasparas Jakucionis. The Bucks, however, insisted on the youthful promise and rookie-scale contract of Jakucionis.
Jake Fischer: I do believe Milwaukee has tried to package Nos. 10 and 13 to move up in tonight's first round, but I don't believe there's going to be any trades in the top-10. Sources say the Bucks, at this point, plan to keep Kel'el Ware, despite interest from rival teams like the Lakers. Milwaukee coveted Ware and Kasparas Jakučionis in their recent drafts. The Bucks also value Tyler Herro, sources say, and don't necessarily plan to move him, while Milwaukee will field offers for the All-Star scorer.
