Through Jack on X…

Feeling like doing a mailbag.

Send in your Heat questions if you got 'em!

— Wes Goldberg (@wcgoldberg) August 1, 2024

Tyler Herro, Bam Adebayo, and Jimmy Butler are among the players we can bench.

Herro Tyler? Perhaps you’re wondering…

Indeed, Tyler Herro. Last season, Herro (3.9) averaged more clutch minutes than any other Miami Heat player, including Butler (3.7) and Adebayo (3.5). In clutch games—defined by the NBA as contests in which the score is within five points in the last five minutes—he also scored more points than any other Heat player.

Erik Spoelstra values Herro’s ability to make one-man shots, especially from deep, therefore he has frequently turned to him to close games. Herro is many things, including a topic of discussion among Heat supporters, but during his career, he has also been among Miami’s finest late-game shooters—a fact that is frequently overlooked.

Spoelstra has options after those three. Terry Rozier, Duncan Robinson, Haywood Highsmith, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and Nikola Jovic are on the shortlist. Josh Richardson and Kel’el Ware, for example, might be able to join the conversation, but they will need to provide proof first.

Throughout the previous season, Spoelstra used a variety of lineups, but he felt most at ease when Caleb Martin ended games. Since Martin is no longer with the team, another wing can take his place.

I’m betting for Jaquez to take home one of those positions. Putting more faith in players he trusts than in skill, defense, shooting, or anything else, Spoelstra plays players he trusts. He wants players that he is certain will make wise choices and be in the proper spots. Throughout his debut campaign, Jaquez consistently gained that confidence.

“Every ten days or two weeks, it seemed like he would naturally want to add more things to his plate,” Spoelstra remarked. “After that, we had injuries, so it made sense to give him more responsibilities, which he earned each time we gave them to him.””

Jaquez will be in the final group if his development keeps up at this rate.

One space remains after that. Robinson should be an automatic insert since he is too much of a defensive liability, especially when coupled with Herro. Spo need to turn around unless he has the hot hand.

Highsmith is too slow with the ball in his hands, even though he may be Miami’s finest wing defender and a crucial asset at the conclusion of games.

It’s hard to see Spoelstra selecting a 21-year-old unless Jovic significantly improves as a versatile scorer and more reliable defender. (The same is true of putting your faith in a novice like Ware.)

This brings us to Terry the Scare. Rozier exhibits a level of confidence in his play that Spoelstra finds appealing. The Heat think he can develop into a more potent point-of-attack defender than what he displayed in Charlotte. He offers space and ball handling. Rozier was the Hornets’ go-to player in clutch situations, and he also produced some significant plays after being traded to the Heat.

Another way to say it is that Rozier, Herro, Jaquez, Butler, and Adebayo, the Heat’s anticipated closing lineup, also happens to be a list of their five best players.

In his sophomore campaign, Jaime Jaquez Jr. should be held in high regard by the Heat.

It’s no secret that Jaime Jaquez Jr. made waves during his rookie season. From his widely shared fourth-quarter comeback victory over LeBron James in a closely contested January meeting to the multiple occasions Erik Spoelstra used him in crucial late-game situations during the season, Jaquez Jr. The Miami Heat have undoubtedly selected yet another gem in the draft.

As a rookie, the unexpectedly explosive small forward showed off a skill level befitting a veteran, and Spoelstra showed him an unusual amount of faith. He was named to the first team of the All-Rookie team after averaging just over eight minutes per game in the fourth quarter.

Jaquez concluded the season with just under 12 points on 49% shooting, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.6 assists while averaging roughly 28 minutes per game, despite a minor setback owing to a groin ailment sustained mid-season.

However, Jaquez’s performance in his rookie season raises the question, “What does Jaquez’s second season look like in Miami?” in this what-have-you-done-for-me league.

Something that is persistent? The posts that turned out to be Jaquez’s main source of income. According to NBA.com, Jaquez scored on 51.6% of his post-ups as a rookie, placing him in the 66th percentile. Following the Heat’s trade of Caleb Martin to the Philadelphia 76ers in the free agent market, Jaquez is probably going to get more playing time and maybe even more post appearances. Does a higher-scoring clip overall come from the combination of greater playing time and more responsibility? Given how seasoned Jaquez is already and how much the Heat need reliable offense, the likelihood is high.

Regarding the future development of Jaquez’s offensive toolkit, a few videos from his offseason workouts have emerged, showing him honing his 3-point shot and going on some pickup runs with Zach LaVine and Thomas Bryant. He also shows off some new dribbling moves in these videos, which has generated even more excitement among the fan base. Taking everything into account, Heat supporters should anticipate even greater output from Jaquez in his reelection.

Jaime Jaquez’ offseason work 🔥

(via @swishcultures_ ) pic.twitter.com/yy00VShz59

— 𝙃𝙀𝘼𝙏 𝙉𝘼𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉 (@HeatvsHaters) August 4, 2024

Jaime left a lasting defensive influence in addition to his well-established offensive legacy. The defense is the Heat’s strongest suit, particularly when it comes to forcing mistakes. Jaquez finished the previous season with 77 thefts in total, third among rookies only behind Victor Wembanyama and Amen Thompson.

As a rookie, Jaquez undoubtedly exceeded his expectations on both sides of the floor, which is why Heat officials are ecstatic about their 2023 first-round pick. Even after being named to the first team of the All-Rookie squad, Jaquez made it a point to play for the Heat in the summer league in Las Vegas.

“Getting game reps is the best thing there is. It’s unbeatable,” Jaquez declared to reporters in Las Vegas. “It doesn’t matter how hard you practice in the gym if you can’t apply it to the game. Those are game reps to be able to come out here and play for Team USA. Those are game reps here at summer league. I felt content and thankful that I could accomplish it.

The Miami Heat embodies that kind of thinking. Jaime Jaquez Jr. is the organization’s next building block because of his approach to the game, which is evident in a number of ways.