🙄 Sports intelligence is nearly as dumb as Trump Artificial Intelliigence
A look at the opinions and the grades of a move the Heat did not even forecast being an option.
CBS Sports: A. “I understand the concerns. His skill and his basketball acumen are his best assets. He has good size, skill and processing instincts. However, he didn’t shoot the 3 particularly well and he had a high turnover rate. I understand why people are nervous, but you just put a chip on this guy’s shoulder and sent him to the Miami Heat. This is terrific value. If you’re a Heat fan, you are ecstatic about this. They’re rebuilding without bottoming out. They’re not interested in tanking.”
The Ringer: A. “Hard to say why Jakucionis plummeted this far, but the Heat are getting the second-most creative playmaker in the draft, behind only Egor Demin. The most important detail here is Kasparas is very capable of scaling down, playing off the ball, and bringing that creativity to the second or third action of the offense, which will be important in a system where Tyler Herro will often eat first. Opposing Eastern Conference fan bases are mad that this happened, if that gives you any idea of how well the Heat did (yet again).”
Oh, are we back to the brilliant "Heat", "yet again"? Two words: Justise. Winslow.
Sports Illustrated: A. “Jakucionis saw the longest fall of any prospect previously being projected to go in the top-10. If there wasn’t a concrete reason for the fall, the NBA just let Miami get a blue chip lead guard prospect without tanking.”
NBC Sports: A-. “This high grade is based on the fact that this is a quality pickup this late in the first round. The Lithuanian who came to Illinois via FC Barcelona is a strong floor general who understands how to run an offense and is a creative passer. He averaged 15.6 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.8 assists a game last season. He slipped down draft boards after a rough Big 10 season with concerns about his shot (32.6% from 3) and defense. That said, coming off the bench as a secondary shot creator alongside players like Tyler Herro, he could find a role where he thrives.”
[In other words, good value, not necessarily good. The "Heat" does find good value, usually in the G League, which is why they're 44-38 for ELEVEN STRAIGHT SEASONS.]
Yahoo Sports: D+. “The Heat were probably hoping for Walter Clayton Jr. with this pick. For every beautiful assist Jakučionis had as a freshman, there’s an equally ugly bone-headed turnover. He had 11 games this past season with more turnovers than made shots. As a primary creator, he’s not a Tyrese Haliburton type. Think more along the lines of Spencer Dinwiddie; he’s one of your guys on the roster, but he’s not THE guy.”
[Jeez, I don't think this is D+ either! That would mean there were several better guys available to the "Heat".]
ESPN: Graded Heat as one of two “biggest winners” of the first round, along with the moves by the Phoenix Suns. “It was surprising to see Jakucionis — the No. 11-ranked player on our top 100 big board — fall all the way to No. 20. Any temporary disappointment over the money he lost was probably replaced by the realization he landed in arguably the most desirable situation of any guard prospect in this draft — a team desperate for shot creation and playmaking. He’ll also fit in perfectly from a culture and toughness perspective. Jakucionis’ ability to play any of the backcourt positions gives the Heat significant lineup flexibility when operating alongside Tyler Herro in the backcourt. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him eventually emerge as the franchise’s future point guard, thanks to the savvy he displays running pick-and-roll and his exceptional feel for the game.”
The Athletic: No grade, but commentary from former NBA executive John Hollinger. “This is a bit of a slide for Jakučionis, who was seen by many as a potential top-10 pick, but I also think it’s a more realistic landing spot for a guy who probably projects as a combo guard off the bench more than a long-term starter. Miami could use a guy like him, though, because he can handle the ball and shoot stepback 3s; he offers a nice contrast in the backcourt to defensive bulldog Davion Mitchell.
[So not even good value, "realistic" at 20. Bench player, not starter. We're going to have an All G League bench for shur. This is reasonable commentary to me]
Bill Simmons: The noted podcaster termed the selection a steal. “As usual somebody good in the draft falls to Miami. Jakucionis is good. … I’m watching rooting for the Celtics to trade up because he was one of my favorite guys. And then Miami, as usual…It always happens for them. Jakucionis falls to them. It just bothers me. I think you shouldn’t get that guy at 20. … It’s really annoying to me. And they’re going do some S&T with Kuminga. And guess what, he’ll be good for them too. Then all of a sudden, I’ll be like, Jesus Christ we’re back with the Heat? We thought we killed them. We thought we cut their head off. They’re back?”
[Now, if Miami gets Kuminga, who is coveted in the Left Bay, that would be something. But this is just Simmons schtick. He is all Beans, all the time and revels in his Post-Traumatic "Heat" Syndrome affliction.]
ESPN analyst Jeremy Woo: “This is excellent value for Miami, which could use a playmaking guard, and it was certainly a surprise to see him still available. The fact that he fell this far in the first place is arguably a travesty, and the Heat should be quite pleased with how this turned
Post-Draft Analysis
Chaotic drafts like this one always produce a surprising fall or two. In this case, it was Jakucionis, a player we rated as a top-10 talent. Each of the top 20 slots viewed as potential landing spots chose to go in different directions, sending him into temporary free fall before finding a home with the Heat. This is excellent value for Miami, which could use a playmaking guard, and it was certainly a surprise to see him still available. The fact that he fell this far in the first place is arguably a travesty, and the Heat should be quite pleased with how this turned out. Jakucionis' pick-and-roll savvy and toughness should fit in nicely here, and there might be several teams regretting passing on him a year or two from now. -- Jeremy Woo ESPN
That is very doggone impressive!
Why Kasparas Jakucionis, Liam McNeeley and Danny Wolf fell on draft night
...
none fell harder than freshmen Liam McNeeley and Kasparas Jakucionis, both of whom were
projected as lottery talents throughout their college basketball season.
Illinois' international star Kasparas Jakucionis entered the night ranked as a top-10 player on the board across the industry. He's a 6-5 playmaker who is highly skilled and savvy with the ball, able to score from all three levels and create for others with vision and talent as a passer.
He's not overly explosive, but his skill set and craftiness with the ball -- the passes he made and the shots he hit over the course of the season -- were intoxicating.
However, over the course of the college basketball season, one area became a glaring concern, which ultimately played out on draft night: his exceptionally high turnover rate at 25.4%.
To go with the sky-high turnover rate, Jakucionis also didn't shoot the ball at an efficient clip, connecting on just 31.8% of his 3s on the season.
There are questions as to how his game will ultimately translate in the NBA, but he found a home with one of the league's best franchises and best selectors in the draft in the Heat.
For Jakucionis, this is a big win. In Miami, he'll be playing for one of the best coaches in the league in Erik Spoelstra and will be baked into an elite culture.
There's a case to be made that Jokucionis' game -- with his ability to operate in space, create out of ball screens and think the game -- will be better suited in the NBAthan in college. But then again, that is a very high turnover rate.
Travis Branham CBS
