On paper, Jaime Jaquez Jr. is set for an increased role with the Miami Heat this season. After seeing his minutes dip in 2024-25, the trading of Haywood Highsmith for next to nothing opens the door for JJJ to get 25+ minutes a night in 2025-26.
But what if Jaquez Jr. doesn't bounce back and continue to progress?
Well, the good news for Miami is that a potential replacement could already be waiting in the wings.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. needs a bounce back year
Jaquez Jr. had a decent enough rookie season after being drafted by the Heat in 2023. He averaged almost 12 points a night, grabbed almost four rebounds a game, and shot over 48% from the field.
But last year all those numbers dipped, and by the end of the season, he was relegated to bench and mop-up duty.
At the core of the issues for Jaquez Jr. last season is that his shooting just wasn't good enough, and it didn't take a progression forward. His catch-and-shoot as well as his shooting percentage when left "wide open" lagged behind those of others and played a factor in his minutes diminishing.
He is entering year three of his four-year rookie contract, but the Heat may be forced to make a decision on Jaquez Jr. sooner rather than later if Pelle Larsson continues to progress.
Larsson had a massive summer between his stint in the Summer League and his stint at EuroBasket and has catapulted himself into the conversation of being a mainstay in Miami's rotation this season.
Now, as we know, being a summer league star and being a useful player in a real NBA game can be two different things. But if Larsson continues to progress himself, he actually has the potential to bring more to the table than JJJ given Larsson's willingness to drive to the hoop this summer.
For Jaquez Jr., it could open up the door of being a trade piece down the road if he and Larsson are at all even in play this season. Larsson comes with a contract that will be $4 million cheaper in 2026-27, and if he can do the same job that JJJ is doing, well, business is business.