Erik Spoelstra can’t hide his love for Heat rookie Kasparas Jakucionis
Posted October 15, 2025
Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra has had nothing but praise to offer when speaking about rookie point guard Kasparas Jakucionis. He most recently described him as a "pitbull," and it's almost as if the team is taking the complete opposite approach with Jakucionis than they've been taking with Kel'el Ware.
Where Spo publicly criticizes Ware, he goes above and beyond with praise for Jakucionis. It's pretty obvious that Spo loves the way Jakucionis approaches the game, and it could reveal the biggest potential problem with Ware.
Even though it's somewhat of a mystery as to what we should expect from Jakucionis this season, it's clear that Spo (and the Heat) love his intangibles enough. Jakucionis is far from a finished product, but it's clear that the raw talent is present.
And for a strong developmental organization like the Heat, that's all they need to be sold on a prospect. If they believe Jakucionis is doing everything in his power to put himself in the best position to succeed, the Heat will reciprocate that respect.
The Heat love Jakucionis
That's what we're seeing develop between Spo and Jakucionis.
The true test will ultimatley come once the regular season arrives. Historically speaking, Spo has been generally hesitant to play rookies right away. Could Jakucionis be the exception? In his lone extended preseason showcase, he did look awfully good.
In what was his first real action in a Heat uniform (aside from summer league, which is not entirely the same), Jakucionis was the team's best playmaker in uniform. For a team that has a desperate need for a natural point guard, that had to be a good feeling for the organization.
Why Jakucionis could be a night one contributor
In his preseason debut for the Heat, Jakucionis finished with 10 assists. Even if he isn't fully developed as a scorer, if he can be that level of playmaker on a semi-consistent level, it's going to be awfully difficult for Spo to keep him off the floor.
At this point, especially with how much Spo clearly is a fan of Jakucionis, the only thing that could keep him out of the good graces of the Heat is injuries. Unfortunately, he's already
battled a couple of minor ones in training camp and this preseason. While they've been minor, they've also been enough to keep him out of action.
That's not ideal. It's certainly something to keep a close eye on as we inch closer and closer to the start of the regular season.
One thing is clear, though, and it's the fact that Spo has an affinity for Jakucionis. It should give him an upper hand for minutes heading into the beginning of the season.
3 Rams who are trending toward being dealt at NFL trade deadline
Trade season is rapidly approaching, as the 2025 deadline is set for November 4, 2025, at 1:00 pm PT. From that point on, Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead will be limited to releasing players and signing free agents as the only options to modify or upgrade the roster. While there are no significant season-ending injuries that precipitate a roster move, there are some players who may be trending towards being traded away.
No, they are not busts per se. But in recent Rams history, the trade deadline has been as much about shedding players who aren’t ideally suited to compete in Horns as it is about adding new talent. And 2025 is shaping up to be more of the same.
The trick is, creating a void weakens the team — unless there’s already an upgrade on the roster, the practice squad, or in their crosshairs via trade. But sometimes it’s necessary to take a chance on a younger or less experienced player just to see if the projected upgrade is real.
3 Rams players at risk of being dumped from Los Angeles
3. Cornerback Emmanuel Forbes Jr.
While he has been struggling mightily in the secondary, cornerback Emmanuel Forbes Jr. did show a bit of improvement in Week 6. The fact that LA continues to stick with him may be directly
Snead signed free agent Tre Brown and elevated A.J. Green from the practice squad, but neither player has taken a defensive snap so far. Los Angeles
split defensive snaps between Forbes, Cobie Durant, and Darious Williams against the Baltimore Ravens, producing solid results. Forbes may be out of the woods for now.
But the team traded away Tre'Davious White last season when he faced similar struggles, all but suggesting the former 16th-overall pick is officially on trade watch.
2. Inside linebacker Troy Reeder
When he was elevated to start on Sunday, the predictable result shocked nobody. The Ravens ran at will against what had been a rather stingy run defense. The difference maker? With inside linebacker Omar Speights out, veteran Troy Reeder started. Reeder’s optics weren’t bad. But rookie inside linebacker
Breaking down the snap counts, Dolac took over for the 31-year-old and ultimately ended up staying in the game for more playing time. That's huge for two reasons. The main advantage of sticking with Reeder is his experience, but Dolac is gaining on him. Perhaps more importantly, it's how well the 24-year-old played.
Reeder did make some plays in Baltimore, but Dolac made more. The undrafted rookie outplayed the seven-year veteran. And with Elias Neal on the practice squad, Reeder could be dealt at the trade deadline. Word on the street is the San Francisco 49ers are
Oh how the mighty have fallen. From starting center in 2024 to consecutive healthy scratches, Beaux Limmer is not taking his demotion well. Worse still, he’s shown no real proof of the kind of versatility this team needs to keep him on the roster. He played well at center last season. This year? He’s struggling to block anywhere. He’s logged just 52 offensive snaps. If he were performing well, that number would be much higher.
The challenge is simple. A struggling, non-productive player is occupying a roster spot that could be optimized. Interior linemen Dylan McMahon and Wyatt Bowles both showed promise in the preseason and remain on the practice squad, awaiting an opportunity. While it’s too early to completely close the book on Limmer, the opportunity cost of keeping him may be too great not to explore a better fit via trade.
Ultimately, that’s what it comes down to. Is Los Angeles a better team with any or all of these three players? Or does this team improve by parting ways and opening up those roster spots for someone else? That’s the decision Les Snead must make. But fans can weigh in all they want in the meantime. Time is running out, and the pressure is building. As always, thanks for reading.
