Heat’s Jakucionis not focused on Heat-Giannis trade speculation: ‘I can’t really control it’
Miami Heat guard Kasparas Jakucionis learned plenty of important lessons as a 19-year-old rookie last season. After turning 20 on May 29, Jakucionis is learning another critical lesson during his first full NBA offseason.
The NBA is a business.
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, Jakucionis has been among the names speculated to be in Miami’s potential trade package for Antetokounmpo.
“It’s part of it,” Jakucionis said during a Tuesday appearance to interact and take photos with young campers at Jr. Heat Basketball Camp at SLAM! Miami charter school.
“I really don’t pay too much attention to that because I can’t really control it. So I’m just trying to focus on what I do, on the court, off the court. Try to get better now, focus and now soon I’m going to a national team to play for my country. So that’s the main goal, getting better.”
Jakucionis could soon know his fate, as Bucks co-owner Jimmy Haslam made clear recently that Milwaukee would like to make a decision on Antetokounmpo’s future with the organization by next week’s NBA Draft. The two-day NBA Draft will take place on June 23 and 24, and the Heat is still awaiting final word from the Bucks on a potential Antetokounmpo trade.
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported Monday that Antetokounmpo “has focused on wanting to be a member of the Miami Heat.” A league source recently confirmed that living in Miami would appeal to Antetokounmpo.
The Boston Celtics are another team vying for Antetokounmpo, with one NBA source labeling the Celtics’ interest in trading for the future Basketball Hall of Famer as “real.” Antetokounmpo reportedly also has interest in being dealt to the Celtics.
But Jakucionis insists he’s not interested in consuming all the trade speculation swirling around Antetokounmpo and the Heat.
“I’m more focused on what I do on the court and how to get better, how to make myself important for the team and try to do as much as possible as I can,” Jakucionis said.
Getting a trade for Antetokounmpo done before next week’s draft is almost required for the Heat if it’s going to land him ahead of this upcoming season. Why?
The Heat would be able to include three first-round picks and multiple pick swaps in a trade offer to the Bucks for Antetokounmpo if a deal is agreed to before the draft. Miami can only trade two first-round picks in a trade after the conclusion of the draft.
Technically, the Heat isn’t eligible to trade its 2026 first-round pick (No. 13 overall) because NBA rules prevent teams from being without a first-round selection in two consecutive years (the Heat sent a top-14 protected first-round 2027 pick to the Charlotte Hornets in the Terry Rozier trade). But the Heat could pick a player on behalf of another team at No. 13 in the first round of this year’s draft as part of a prearranged trade.
The Heat would be able to use its first-round selection in this year’s draft to make a pick for the Bucks, and could also include its 2030 and 2032 first-round picks as part of the trade package for Antetokounmpo.
Whatever happens in the coming days, Jakucionis is hoping to build on his solid rookie campaign next season.
Jakucionis, who the Heat selected with the 20th overall pick in last year’s NBA Draft, played in 53 games and made 12 starts during his first NBA regular season. The only player in franchise history who played in more regular-season games with the Heat as a teenager is Justise Winslow, who played in 69 games as a 19-year-old in his rookie season in 2015-16.
Jakucionis closed the regular season with appearances in 52 of the Heat’s final 56 regular-season games. He logged double-digit minutes in 45 of those 52 appearances.
Jakucionis (6-foot-5 and 200 pounds) 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.
After beginning his rookie season out of the Heat’s rotation, Jakucionis went on to crack the Heat’s rotation in December by impressing coaches with his energy, playmaking skills and ability to hold up on defense. He also turned into one of the Heat’s top outside shooters.
While at lower volume than some of the Heat’s other top shooters, Jakucionis closed his first NBA regular season with a team-best three-point shooting percentage of 42.3% (66 of 156). Among the 242 NBA players who attempted more than 150 threes last regular season, Jakucionis finished with the 10th-best three-point percentage.
Now, Jakucionis wants to become a more efficient player when he’s closer to the basket. He shot 46.7% from inside the paint last season.
“Paint decisions, obviously the weight room,” Jakucionis said of his focus during workouts this offseason. “Trying to put some more weight, more strength and some finishing in the paint.”
One thing is for sure: It’s going to be a busy offseason for Jakucionis.
Jakucionis has been called up to the Lithuanian national team for the July window of European World Cup qualifying. Lithuania will take on Great Britain on July 2 and Italy on July 5.
While that schedule will have Jakucionis away from the Heat for the California Classic segment of its summer league circuit in San Francisco, the expectation is that he will rejoin the Heat for Las Vegas Summer League that begins on July 9 ... if he’s not traded away in a potential Antetokounmpo deal.
“I mean, there’s going to be a lot,” Jakucionis said of his busy summer schedule. “I think not only physical, but mental. All the changes. And first time going with the main national team, too. But I’m looking forward to it. I’m excited and that’s what I want to do.”
