The Miami Heat are one team who have built their roster through young talent, but at some point the team must decide who to extend when the time comes.
Bleacher Report released an article, predicting contracts for 2026 rookie-scale extensions. One player eligible for a rookie-scale extension is Jaime Jaquez Jr., who is predicted to ink a four-year, $90 million extension. The article compares this contract to Dyson Daniels' extension. Daniels, the starting shooting guard for the Atlanta Hawks, has established himself as one of the better backcourt defenders in the NBA.
"While Jaquez doesn't start for the Heat, he's fifth in overall minutes as one of the top sixth men in the league,' the article wrote. "His greatest weakness is his outside shot (28.1 percent from three is rough), but he can score and is second on the team in assists behind Davion Mitchell (who starts but plays 28.4 minutes per game, slightly less than Jaquez)."
With the Heat, Jaquez has been a solid player. He was especially strong during his rookie season and ended up earning 10 third-place votes for the Rookie of the Year award. His sophomore season saw a bit of a slump in mostly every statistical category but he has really bounced back this season as the team's sixth man. Jaquez is viewed as a contender for the Sixth Man of the Year award. He is averaging 14.9 points, five rebounds and 4.8 assists while shooting 50.2 percent from the field and a not-so-great 29.2 percent from three-point range.
"Miami is a middling team that essentially needs to get through the play-in every year," the article added. "Still, one of those seasons they went all the way to the NBA Finals. The front office needs to decide whether the roster is good enough to reinvest with Norman Powell, a free agent; Andrew Wiggins, nearing the end of his deal (player option before July); and Jaquez, up for an extension. Given that the team gave Jović a healthy deal, and Jaquez is more of a rotation mainstay, he should be able to find a suitable extension this summer."
The Heat will have a lot of work to do this offseason and the roster could see a major shake-up. Jaquez' potential contract extension could be one of the more important decisions on Pat Riley's plate.
Join the Community
Don't miss out on our ROUNDTABLE community and the latest news!
It's completely free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members.
Download the free Roundtable APP, and stay even more connected!