Is Jaime Jaquez playing tonight vs Dallas Mavericks? Latest update on Heat sophomore
Jaime Jaquez was the 18th pick in the 2023 draft and ended up being a steal for the Miami Heat. In his rookie year, Jaquez showed incredible promise with a polished offensive game and a competitive motor in his system. After an impressive season, he was also included in the USA Select Team to run scrimmages against this year's Olympic unit.
But will Jaime Jaquez suit up against the Dallas Mavericks tonight? Following the team's 102-73 victory against the OKC Thunder, the sophomore guard confirmed that it was his last outing in the Summer League, as per FanNation's Shandel Richardson. The team's coaching staff will make the necessary adjustments in the rotation.
Aside from the acquisition of Alec Burks in the offseason, along with the departures of Caleb Martin and Orlando Robinson, Miami will run an identical squad from last season. Jaime Jaquez, in turn, is anticipated to play a vital role in his sophomore year.
Jaime Jaquez's stats in the Heat's Summer League games
The Heat have a spotless 2-0 record in this year's NBA Summer League, and a huge part of their success is due to Jaime Jaquez. In Miami's first two games, he has averaged 26.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game.
In the Heat's 119-114 win against the Boston Celtics, he put up 29 points (55.6% shooting), 11 rebounds and five assists. Jaquez then backed up that performance with another excellent outing in the team's second Summer League game. Against the Thunder, it was a 23-point night for him while adding five rebounds to his stat line.
Miami Heat vs. Dallas Mavericks preview
Unlike the Miami Heat, the Dallas Mavericks have yet to win a single matchup in the 2024 NBA Summer League. Olivier Maxence-Prosper has shown some strides but has still struggled to find any form of consistency on the court. He was the 23rd pick in the draft last year by Dallas and showed some upside to his game with his athleticism and high motor.
The Heat, on the other hand, have found another steal selection in the draft in Kel'el Ware. The 7-foot center has the complete package in his offensive arsenal. The perimeter shotmaking is there, as is his ability to post up defenders when he wants to. His athleticism speaks for itself, and he is more than capable of crashing the boards with his size.
With Jaime Jaquez out for this matchup, the bulk of the offense will be focused on giving Ware several touches to get the team going.
In the team's head-to-head meeting against Dallas, he put up an impressive double-double stat line of 11 points (41.7% shooting, including 1 of 2 from beyond the arc) and 12 rebounds.