New guard declined to conduct a predraft workout for the Heat because he thought he would not be available by the time they picked at No. 20, according to the Miami Herald’s Anthony Chiang. Miami also didn’t think Jakucionis, ranked in the top 10 on several big boards, would be available to them.

“We see tremendous potential with Kas,” Heat vice president of basketball operations and assistant general manager said. “You’re talking about a 6-5 [guard] with a plus-three [pointer], good athlete but with a high IQ. So if you combine all those things with a work ethic, there’s no reason why you can’t mold him into a very good NBA player. I think that’s why we were attracted to take him tonight.”

The 6’5″ guard averaged 15.0 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists in his one and only season at Illinois. He’ll serve as a lead playmaker and help assert and Kel’el Ware as lob threats and roll men. Jakucionis did average 3.7 turnovers per game last year, but the Heat aren’t concerned.

“Certainly the numbers are higher than you want, but he’s high usage and he’s processing things,” Simon said. “The turnovers were high, certainly. But I think they’re turnovers that you can work with. I think those are correctable, they’re teachable to see the game. But if you just watched all his film, he’s making good reads out there, he’s making plays.”

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