Nikola Jovic and Jaime Jaquez Jr. are two of the Miami Heat’s best young players.
Unsurprisingly, the Heat exercised options on both players’ contracts.
By Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel: “The Heat have picked up the fourth-year option on the rookie contract of forward Nikola Jovic and the third-year option on the rookie contract of Jaime Jaquez Jr. Both trades are for the 2025-26 season.”
The Heat picked up the fourth-year option on forward Nikola Jovic’s rookie contract and the third-year option on Jaime Jaquez Jr.’s rookie contract. Both trades are for the 2025-26 season.
— Ira Winderman (@IraHeatBeat) September 5, 2024
Jovic was the 27th pick in the 2022 NBA Draft by the Heat.
He finished his second NBA season averaging 7.7 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game while shooting 45.2 percent from the field and 39.9 percent from three-point range in 46 games.
On the other hand, Jaquez Jr. was the 18th pick in the 2023 NBA Draft out of UCLA.
He finished his rookie season averaging 11.9 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game while shooting 48.9 percent from the field and 32.2 percent from three-point range in 75 games.
By ClutchPoints: “Jaime Jaquez Jr. is the 5th rookie in NBA history with 30 PTS and 10 REB on Christmas Day
Patrick Ewing
Walt Bellamy
Oscar Robertson
Wilt Chamberlain
Jaime Jaquez Jr.
ELITE COMPANY.”
Jaime Jaquez Jr. is the 5th rookie in NBA history with 30 PTS and 10 REB on Christmas Day 🤯
🎁 Patrick Ewing
🎁 Walt Bellamy
🎁 Oscar Robertson
🎁Wilt Chamberlain
🎁 Jaime Jaquez Jr.ELITE COMPANY. pic.twitter.com/hMoRE3HKHU
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) December 26, 2023
As for the Heat, they finished last year in eighth place in the Eastern Conference with a record of 46-36.
They lost to Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics in the first round of the NBA playoffs (in five games).
The franchise has reached the NBA Finals twice since 2020.