Have Heat finally solved their point guard problem?

Since Goran Dragic left the Miami Heat in 2021, the point guard position has been a problem for the franchise. Multiple guards have passed through, but none of them have stuck for more than a couple of seasons.

Terry Rozier is the latest guard to try, and fail, to fill the void Dragic left behind. However, on Wednesday, with the 20th pick in the NBA Draft, Pat Riley added a potential long-term answer to the guard position.

Miami selected Kasparas Jakucionis out of Illinois. The 6-foot-6 guard is widely viewed as one of the best playmakers in the 2025 draft class. There's also considerable excitement about his overall offensive game and how he can develop into a high-level lead guard.

"Sizable playmakers are all the rage, and Jakucionis fits the bill as a 6’5″ lead guard with good vision and gobs of creativity," Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman wrote after the draft. "He’s also a tone-setting hustler and crafty below-the-rim finisher with perimeter shooting potential."

Earlier in the draft cycle, Jakucionis was viewed as a potential lottery pick. However, concerns regarding his decision-making and the manner of his turnovers likely played a role in his falling into Riley's lap. He averaged 3.7 turnovers per game during his lone collegiate season. 

Fortunately for Jakucionis, he now gets the opportunity to work with Erik Spoelstra, a coach who has thrived when developing high-ceiling talent. Therefore, Jakucionis projects as Miami's long-term answer at the point guard position. He has the size, feel and offensive game to thrive as either a lead guard or off-ball facilitator. 

"The most important detail here is Kasparas is very capable of scaling down, playing off the ball, and bringing that creativity to the second or third action of the offense, which will be important in a system where Tyler Herro will often eat first," J. Kyle Mann wrote for The Ringer. "Opposing Eastern Conference fan bases are mad that this happened, if that gives you any idea of how well the Heat did (yet again)."

Whether Riley looks to add a veteran guard as a mentor for the upcoming season will remain to be seen. 

But, whatever happens, the Heat have a genuine reason to be excited as they wake up today. Still, they would be wise not to expect too much, too soon. After all, Jakucionis will make some mistakes as he adapts to Spoelstra's system and the rigors of the NBA. 

Such is the life of a rookie.