BREAKING NEWS: 3 Heat players whose roles are guaranteed

BREAKING NEWS: 3 Heat players whose roles are guaranteed to change next season

After seeing young players exceed expectations last season and Caleb Martin leave for free agency, the Miami Heat

will need to make some changes. The summer brought little changes in terms of outside help, thanks in part to

Miami’s already-bloated payroll. So here’s the team for now, with 14 guys on normal contracts.

If the Heat want to progress next season, these three players must improve in new roles.

Jamie Jaquez Jr. will take on more responsibility now that Caleb Martin is gone. Jaquez had the ball in his hands

frequently throughout his two Summer League games, implying that he may be used more on the ball next season.

Jaquez was deployed as the primary ball-handler in pick-and-rolls alongside rookie center Kel’el Ware, and it’s no

surprise that the second-year player excelled in Las Vegas. However, he had five turnovers, but the goal of Summer

League is to improve your game. Miami’s roster lacks a traditional point guard, instead featuring a number of ball

handlers capable of creating offense. This season, Jaquez will receive plenty of reps with the ball in his hands.

Defensively, Jaquez still needs to improve to help the Heat replace Martin, but he has similar size and athleticism

and could improve there.

It appears that Jaquez will be Miami’s Swiss army knife. Giving him more responsibility will only serve to strengthen

his game. Year 2 will be critical for Jaquez’s development.