The Miami Heat signed first-round pick Jaime Jaquez Jr. to a contract.
The four-year rookie scale contract is projected to be worth approximately $17 million, per the Miami Herald. The newspaper reported that Jaquez, the 18th overall pick of the 2023 NBA Draft, is expected to receive $3.5 million for this upcoming season, $3.7 million in 2024-25, $3.9 million in 2025-26 and $5.9 million in 2026-27.
Also on Saturday, the Heat signed developmental center Orlando Robinson to a standard NBA contract and guards Dru Smith and Jamaree Bouyea to two-way deals.
Jaquez, 22, averaged 17.8 points and 8.2 rebounds in 37 games last season with UCLA while being named Pac-12 Player of the Year and earning Wooden All-American honors. He also was named Lute Olson National Player of the Year.
Jaquez helped the Bruins reach the 2021 Final Four followed by back-to-back Sweet 16 appearances.
Robinson, 22, closed last season on a two-way deal with the Heat after going undrafted out of Fresno State. He averaged 3.7 points and 4.1 rebounds in 31 games (one start) last season with Miami.
Smith, 25, contributed 2.9 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 15 games (one start) split between the Brooklyn Nets and Heat in 2022-23.
Bouyea, 24, averaged 3.0 points in five games off the bench last season split between the Washington Wizards and Heat.
More must-reads: