The Heat’s newest extension came with a big number attached, but the reaction from Jaime Jaquez Jr. took a little time to catch up.
Jaquez, who has gone from limited rookie minutes to a starting role, recently signed a four-year deal worth $60 million. The organization is clearly betting on him as a long-term piece, and he said the full weight of that commitment didn’t hit him immediately.
“I think I was pretty blank,” Larsson said. “I mean, it was not until later, I think, really, when I talked to my parents that they kind of made me realize how crazy it is. … I’ve been playing basketball for free for mostly my whole life, so to have this now is insane.”
Last season gave the Heat plenty of reason to keep investing. Jaquez averaged 11.4 points in 70 games after moving into the starting five, and he said he heard encouraging messages from coach Erik Spoelstra and team president Pat Riley during extension talks. He also made a quick impression on new Heat star Giannis Antetokounmpo during offseason workouts.
“It was kind of similar things of they’re giving me this extension for a reason, so just keep doing what I’ve been doing and being who I am on the court,” Larsson said. “And, now we’re bringing in some new guys that I think I’m going to fit well with and I can continue to do the same thing, just try to be more efficient in the things I’m doing.”
Antetokounmpo is expected to make his Heat debut tonight in a preseason game against Toronto in Quebec City, and Winderman reported that all of Miami’s projected rotation players are available.
Udonis Haslem is no longer on the floor as a player, but the 46-year-old is still very much in the mix. Now serving as an executive, he has been running drills with the team in camp, and both Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis said his presence has mattered. Portis pointed to Haslem’s voice and the help he’s giving newcomers as they learn the system.
“Me and UD are kind of similar in using our voice and being a leader and things like that, so it’s been fun to have him around,” Portis said. “… Especially in practice, giving me little pointers, trying to pick up on things a little faster.
Obviously, I’m new to the system with the cutting and spacing back out and things like that. So I’m trying to get acclimated to it.
So I think it’s good to have guys that’s already been here, that know the system, that can help the new guys.”
Among the younger players turning heads in camp is two-way guard Tre Donaldson. The 22-year-old went undrafted after spending his senior season at Miami, and his approach has already stood out to teammates. Davion Mitchell was especially direct in his praise.
“He’s just a dog,” Davion Mitchell said. “It kind of reminded me of myself when I was in the league, just trying to figure it out.
Playing hard. Still making mistakes, obviously, but you learn from those mistakes.
But he’s playing really well with all the confidence in the world. I’m excited to see him grow.”
In Other News...
Klay Thompson's Real Pull To Miami Just Put Heat Fans On Edge
Nikola Jovics post-extension dip has already given the Heat a reminder of how quickly comfort can turn into concern, and it comes at a time when Miami is trying to keep its next wave of talent moving forward. Jovic acknowledged he got complacent after signing his four-year, $62 million extension before last season, a candid admission that lands differently for a team built on accountability and internal pressure.
There is also a bigger spotlight now hovering over Miamis roster outlook, thanks to Klay Thompson pointing to Bam Adebayo and Giannis Antetokounmpo as major reasons the Heat appealed to him after his Dallas buyout. Giannis, meanwhile, has left his future with Miami uncertain even while stressing his desire to make a lasting impact, and with two-way player Keshad Johnson expected to miss a few weeks because of a right hamstring strain, the Heat have more than one reason to watch how the next stretch unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
Three Heat Players Are Fighting For More Than Preseason Minutes
The Heats camp at FAU in Boca has had a familiar Miami feel to it, with the usual emphasis on conditioning, competition and the kind of roster sorting that happens before the games start to count. For players on the edge of the rotation, these preseason workouts are more than tune-ups. They are auditions, and a few names have started to separate themselves in the early going.
Rookie Ryan Conwell has been getting looks with both the first and third units, a sign the staff is testing how he fits in different settings. Tre Donaldson has also turned heads in camp and could pick up extra preseason run after an injury opened a door, while Nikola Jovic is still chasing a more reliable scoring impact against stronger defenders as he tries to lock down steady minutes. For Miami, the coming weeks are less about final answers than about which players keep forcing the issue. [Read more 🡒]
Heat Preseason Opener Puts Three Early Roster Questions On Display
The first preseason look for Miami comes with more than the usual September curiosity, because the opener against Toronto will also give the Heat an early read on a roster that looks meaningfully different. Giannis Antetokounmpo is part of the new mix, but the game is just as much about sorting through the rotation pieces around him, especially with several spots and roles still up for grabs.
One of the clearest battles is at backup center, where Bobby Portis and Nick Richards will both be trying to make their case. Nikola Jovic also enters a season that could shape a lot of what comes next for him, while the Heats perimeter shooting is another area worth watching after the offseason turnover. Preseason games rarely settle everything, but this one should tell Miami plenty about where the early answers might be hiding. [Read more 🡒]