Heat Signing Big Ten Center After Draft: Report

To put it generously, the Miami Heat had an uneven 2024-25 season.

During a relatively underwhelming 2024 offseason, the Heat failed to come to terms with six-time All-Star swingman Jimmy Butler over a contract extension. Miami seemed to have reservations about giving maximum money to a 35-year-old with a history of ticky-tack injuries.

This set up an acrimonious start to the year, which saw Butler ultimately get suspended three times while agitating for a trade out of town.

In February, the Heat traded Butler to the Golden State Warriors in a multi-team blockbuster deal, sinking further into mediocrity thanks to a middling return package highlighted by Andrew Wiggins and a future first round draft pick.

While Golden State improved by leaps and bounds on both sides of the ball and advanced to the semifinal round of the Western Conference playoffs, Miami finished with a 37-45 finish and got obliterated by the Cleveland Cavaliers in a four-game first round sweep.

Now, the Heat are looking to pick up the pieces in a critical offseason for the franchise. Miami snagged an intriguing young guard in the first round of the 2025 NBA draft, All-Big Ten stud Kasparas Jakucionis, with the No. 20 pick.

After the end of the draft, Miami moved quickly to explore an intriguing new piece.