As a Miami Heat fan, it was difficult not to be elated by the selection of Kasparas Jakucionis on NBA Draft night. However, one NBA scout has said the quiet part out loud about Jakucionis, and it's a reality that many Heat loyals may not be willing to admit.
In the words of this scout, Jakucionis' "quickness and shooting" were still a concern, and his overall play was "disappointing." Even though he did admit he wasn't ready to make an ultimate judgment on him, it's clear that he's still very much a work in progress at this point.
From the fan's perspective, especially with how inconsistent he was during the NBA Summer League, it's difficult to still carry much of that same excitement as there was on draft night.
It's too early to judge the Kasparas Jakucionis selection
But it'd be foolish to completely give up on the idea that Jakucionis can still develop into a potential star player down the line. After all, when the Heat originally selected him, I don't think anyone truly anticipated him starting right off the bat.
Perhaps they didn't envision this much of a developmental process, but there were at least some expected growing pains with Jakucionis. That's exactly what the Heat have experienced through the summer.
And, you never know, maybe something clicks with Jakucionis sooner rather than later, and this "slow start" ends up being somewhat of a blessing in disguise. Better for all this to happen now than when the season begins anyway.
But even if Jakucionis is more of a developmental project than a contributor this season, there's still reason for hope for Heat fans heading into the future. The talent is there for Jakucionis. It's about the Heat getting the most out of him now that he's in their system.
To be quite honest, I'm not sure there's a better developmental system in the league right now than the Heat's. If there's any team that will be able to get the most out of Jakucionis, it's probably the Heat. And that, more than anything, should give Heat fans hope, even despite the shaky start to his NBA career.
As easy as it may be to bury Jakucionis with how he struggled this summer, it's a lazy move. Sure, Jakucionis is probably not ready to play regular minutes for the Heat, and he may have been a "disaster" in summer league. However, the Heat should still feel confident about their ability to help him evolve into the best player he can be.
It may not happen this season, but Jakucionis should still be considered one of the Heat's best young prospects on the roster.