TITLE: Southeast Roundup: Jaquez Addresses Trade Rumors, Heat’s Giannis Pursuit, Hornets Draft Assets, Ball Lawsuit
SLUG: southeast-roundup-heat-giannis-jaquez-hornets-ball
CONTENT:
MIAMI — Heat forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. said he is tuning out speculation that he could be part of any Miami package for Milwaukee star Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The 25-year-old, runner-up for the 2025-26 Sixth Man of the Year award, has been working out at Kaseya Center but is currently in São Paulo, Brazil, for an NBA event tied to the Finals. “I feel like it’s just the way it is on the Miami Heat team,” Jaquez told reporters, noting the organization’s annual search for upgrades. “I’ve been here for, what, three years now? And every summer there’s a big rumor, so I’ve kind of just gotten to get out of the country and see new things.”
Selected 18th overall in the 2023 draft, Jaquez becomes eligible for a rookie-scale extension this offseason. “I think that’d be incredible,” he said of a long-term deal. “People always talk about it’s not the first contract, it’s the second one that really sets you up for a great life after basketball… An extension would be great, obviously.”
Why Miami keeps pushing for Antetokounmpo
Answering a mailbag question, Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald wrote that the Heat remain aggressive because no player on the current roster projects to raise the team’s ceiling the way a two-time MVP could. Miami holds six of its own first-round picks—Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, Nikola Jović, Jaquez, Kelel Ware and Kasparas Jakucionis—but none were drafted higher than No. 13.
Charlotte’s twin first-rounders
The Hornets possess picks Nos. 14 and 18 in June’s draft. Roderick Boone of The Charlotte Observer reviewed the past decade of selections at those spots, highlighting Bam Adebayo (14th in 2017) as the most accomplished player taken in that range.
LaMelo Ball lawsuit nears trial
A civil suit against Hornets guard LaMelo Ball is scheduled to begin the week of June 15, WCNC Charlotte’s Hank Lee reports. The plaintiff alleges Ball ran over a child’s foot with his car while leaving Spectrum Center after an October 2023 team scrimmage and is seeking $3.75 million in damages. Ball has denied the allegation.
Source: Hoops Rumors
