Heat mailbag: What’s behind Jaime Jaquez Jr.’s slow start to the season?
The Miami Herald’s Heat mailbag is here to answer your questions. If you weren’t able to ask this time, send your questions for future mailbags via X (@Anthony_Chiang). You can also email them to achiang@miamiherald.com.
@KellyLinters22: What do you think is the biggest reason behind Jaime Jaquez Jr.’s decline in production thus far? He seems very lost on offense.
Anthony Chiang: Yes, Jaime Jaquez Jr.’s play has been underwhelming so far this season. Jaquez entered Friday averaging 8.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game while shooting 40.2 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from three-point range this season after averaging 11.9 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game while shooting 48.9 percent and 32.2 percent on threes as a rookie last season.
The biggest difference between the stat lines comes down to two-point shooting percentage.
The good news is that Jaquez is actually generating more shots at the rim this season, with 48.9 percent of his field-goal attempts coming from within the restricted area compared to 36.4 percent of his field-goal attempts coming from that part of the court last season.
The problem is Jaquez is struggling to finish around the rim, shooting just 51.1 percent from within the restricted area this season. Last season, Jaquez shot 65.4 percent from that area of the court.
It doesn’t help that Jaquez has already been forced to miss some time this season, helping to disrupt his rhythm. He sat out three straight games in early November because of a stomach illness and then was held out of one game last week because of a sprained right ankle.
Jaquez’s shooting percentage around the rim should come up and that will help lift his numbers. But it definitely hasn’t been the start to the season that many expected from Jaquez after he was named to the NBA’s All-Rookie First Team last season.
Gilbert: If Damian Lillard were to become available, would the Heat be interested if all they had to trade was Tyler Herro, Duncan Robinson and picks while keeping their young players? Or is that window closed?
Anthony: It appears that window is closed. With the way Tyler Herro is playing (he’s playing well) at 24 years old on a contract that pays him $64 million over the next two seasons, it doesn’t make much sense to trade him for a 34-year-old Damian Lillard that will earn $122 million over the next two seasons.
Plus, after a slow start to the season, the Milwaukee Bucks look to be trending in a better direction and enter Friday in fifth place in the Eastern Conference at 9-9. So it doesn’t seem like the Bucks will be eager to trade Lillard any time soon.
This story was originally published November 29, 2024 at 10:27 AM.
