2 Heat players whose stock is rising, 1 whose stock is falling
By Max Marshall
Stock up: Jaime Jaquez Jr.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. has had a really good rookie season so far. He does all the little things to get minutes and plays at his speed, which, for a rookie, is impressive.
Defensively, he moves his feet well and has quick hands. In Miami's recent win over the Lakers, he stripped the ball from LeBron James and the clip went viral on social media. If Jaquez's strong play on defense continues, it will be hard for coach Erik Spoelstra to take him off the court.
The most impressive thing is his offensive game. Against smaller players, Jaquez will get them in the post and take advantage of the mismatch. Watching Jaquez play, you can tell he was a four-year player at UCLA. The other night against the Charlotte Hornets, Jaquez had a beautiful backdoor cut that resulted in a dunk. Most young players don't look to move without the ball.
Jaquez's jumper is inconsistent but he has hit some key 3s this season. Against the Memphis Grizzles, he hit a huge 3-pointer from the corner to seal the win.
The Heat are comfortable with the rookie making decisions and have drawn up sets to let him initiate offense.