Southeast Notes: Jaquez, Heat, Giannis, Hornets, Ball

Sixth Man of the Year runner-up Jaime Jaquez Jr. says he’s trying not to pay attention to the trade chatter involving Giannis Antetokounmpo, writes Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel.

Jaquez has been working out recently at the Heat‘s arena, but he’s currently in São Paulo, Brazil for an NBA event connected to the Finals, according to Winderman. The 25-year-old forward is rumored to be part of Miami’s offer for the Bucks superstar.

“I feel like it’s just the way it is on the Miami Heat team,” Jaquez said of the speculation amid management’s annual search for upgrades. “I think that it’s kind of normal. 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, you know, see new things.”

Jaquez, a former first-round pick (18th overall in 2023), will be eligible for a rookie scale extension this summer. The versatile forward said he’d love to sign a long-term deal.

“I mean, I think that’d be incredible,” Jaquez said. “I think 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.

“It’s been great so far, the year that I’ve been having, the years that I spent in Miami. And I think an extension would be great, obviously. That’s what players search for, and I’m no different.”

Here’s more from the Southeast:

• In a mailbag for The Miami Herald, Anthony Chiang answers a question about why the Heat are willing to possibly impact their future by pursuing Antetokounmpo. As Chiang observes, Miami currently has six of its own first-round picks (Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, Nikola Jovic, Jaquez, Kel’el Ware and Kasparas Jakucionis) on the roster but none of those players were selected higher than 13th overall and none have the potential to raise the team’s ceiling like the two-time Bucks MVP.
• The Hornets control two first-round picks (Nos. 14 and 18) in June’s draft. Roderick Boone of The Charlotte Observer examines the players who have been selected at those two spots over the past 10 years, with Adebayo (14th in 2017) being the most accomplished at the NBA level.
• A lawsuit against Hornets point guard LaMelo Ball is moving closer to trial, per Hank Lee of WCNC Charlotte. Ball allegedly injured a child’s foot with his car as he was leaving the Spectrum Center after a team scrimmage in October 2023. The plaintiff, the child’s mother, is seeking $3.75MM in damages, according to Lee, who says Ball has denied the allegations. The trial is slated begin the week of June 15.