UCLA Men's Basketball: Coach Expects To Add Ex-Bruin NBA Rookie Into Rotation

Hot off a surprising run to the 2023 NBA Finals, the Miami Heat got to select a new draft pick much higher than most such franchises this summer when they drafted former UCLA Bruins standout Jaime Jaquez Jr. with the No. 18 pick.

In a new conversation with Brian Windhorst of ESPN conducted at a Team USA practice, Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra (an assistant coach under Steve Kerr) discussed the club's top draft pick this year.

"We're excited," Spoelstra said of Jaquez. "He's a guy that you can plug and play right now. He's a little bit older, he has a great deal of experience."

The 6'6" swingman out of Camarillo, CA enjoyed a decorated four-year stint with the Bruins. He was a three-time All-Pac-12 honoree, was named to two Pac-12 All-Defense and two All-Pac-12 Tourney teams, and was a one-time NCAA All-Region pick. He was also a consensus second-team All-American selection and the Pac-12 Player of the Year as a senior.

Across his 37 contests (all starts) with the Bruins in 2022-23, Jaquez averaged 21.4 points on .481/.317/.770 shooting splits, 9.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.9 steals and 0.7 blocks per bout.

His Rookie of the Year odds may be slim, but he still seems capable of making an impact as an athletic, big wing on a team in desperate need of some bench size. Although there's certainly a decent chance he's included as one of the young chips in a theoretical deal for Portland Trail Blazers All-NBA point guard Damian Lillard.