The Miami Heat won't go all the way to admit it right now, but they absolutely need Kasparas Jakucionis to be a hit. With all the uncertainty that is riding the Heat's roster at the moment, Jakucionis being better than expected (and right away) could go a long way in helping solve some of this team's long-term questions.
With the start of NBA Training Camp right around the corner, all eyes will be squarely on Jakucionis. If he can emerge as a difference-making prospect for the Heat this season, the narrative surrounding this season will naturally completely shift.
Where will the excitement come for the Heat this season?
Looking at the Heat's roster and their outlook for this season, it's going to be a bit challenging for the franchise to garner a ton of interest. Sure, if the team gets off to a hot start, that will certainly change things, but that's far from a foregone conclusion.
And, on the contrary, if things begin cold for the Heat, the fan base could turn quickly. But an unexpectedly strong start to his rookie season (in training camp and pre-season) for Jakucionis is the one variable that could help the mood around the team.
The team won't ever admit that there's any pressure on Jakucionis' shoulders heading into the start of the season, but let's be honest for a moment. There is a lot of the Heat's future riding on the Jakucionis pick.
If he does end up being the real steal of the 2025 NBA Draft, it would completely shake the future outlook for the franchise. If he's good right away, or there are at least signs of that possibility, it would completely free up how this team approaches their future.
Perhaps even more importantly, the Heat would get another blue-chip asset. For a team that is looking to pounce on their next superstar, that could end up being game-changing for their future plans.
Jakucionis' inconsistent summer
How likely that is remains to be seen. At least in spurts, though, there were some encouraging signs in the NBA Summer League from Jakucionis. The biggest concern for the Heat has to be the lack of consistency that he showed. Sure, some of that could be chalked up to making the transition from college basketball to the pros, but it's certainly something that needs to be improved upon heading into training camp.
That will absolutely be something to watch for Jakucionis.
As the start of the new season quickly approaches, Jakucionis is one player who could completely change the outlook of the Heat's season. The franchise may not admit it, because they don't want to place added pressure on him, but there's no question that the team will be in a much better place if he proves to be one of the bigger hidden gems from the 2025 NBA Draft.