ESPN gets it right - and wrong - with ranking of 2 young Heat players

It is that time of the year when NBA player rankings are on full display, and ESPN recently just published theirs. The list featured Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler of course, but also included another pair of key players from the Miami Heat. Tyler Herro and Jaime Jaquez Jr. found themselves listed at 76 and 86 overall in the top 100 rankings, respectively. 

It came as a bit of a surprise to have Jaquez included, as the young player is entering just his second season in the NBA. However, having him in the mix here is justified, as he put together an impressive rookie campaign last season. Jaquez earned first-team All-Rookie honors and even found himself in the Rookie of the Year race. 

His availability proved to be reliable in the midst of an injury stricken 2023-24 season for Miami. He appeared in 75 games for the Heat, good for a team-high in just his first year. 

However, Herro’s ranking is where it gets a bit more controversial. He is of the team’s best players, a former Sixth Man of the Year winner and still nowhere near the peak of his young career. As a three level scorer, there is not much Herro can’t do on the offensive end. But with that in mind, why is he ranked so low here? 

Why ESPN got it wrong 

The Herro scrutiny by ESPN is justified. The talented combo guard appeared in a career-low 42 games a season ago, and it is as simple as the best ability is availability. But rankings like this should not be placed mainly by that one facet of the game rather than overall skill level. 

Herro is a better player than at least a dozen of the names ahead of him on this list. It is unfortunate that his health has gotten in the way of his potential in the eyes of the media. A new season brings a fresh start, and just one healthy Herro campaign could open the eyes of a lot of spectators. 

He averaged a career-high 20.8 points and 4.5 assists last season. With coach Erik Spoelstra doubling down on Herro’s impact as a starter again, he is poised to have another standout season and prove ESPN wrong.

Why ESPN got it right 

The Jaquez brand got off to a strong start last year, and being included in this list over the likes of his own teammate Terry Rozier shows a lot. His polished offensive feel for the game was enough to win over Spoelstra and earn regular rotation minutes right off the bat in 2023-24. With a full offseason of working on his game, a slight jump could be in the works. 

ESPN hasn’t been shy of their Jaquez admiration, as they included him as a top candidate for the Sixth Man of the Year award in an older article. With the Heat’s free agent departure of Caleb Martin, it opens up more opportunities for Jaquez. He has already shined in the preseason, finishing with 15 points, six rebounds and five assists in just 18 minutes of action in the Heat’s recent preseason win against the San Antonio Spurs.