LAS VEGAS — The Miami Heat picked Kasparas Jakucionis with the No. 20 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, but based on the way Nique Clifford has looked for the Sacramento Kings, they may have made a mistake. Clifford was selected at pick No. 24, just a few spots after the Heat took Jakucionis.

Clifford has been tearing it up in Summer League, and while Jakucionis has certainly shown some flashes of why the Heat selected him, he looks like a bit more of a project. That’s not the case with Clifford. He looks like he could be a force to be reckoned with in the NBA immediately.

This could be a pick the Heat regret for a long time.

How has Kasparas Jakucionis played at Summer League?

Jakucionis got off to an extremely rocky start during the California Classic Summer League. He only appeared in three games, but he was a disaster in his minutes.

He wrapped up the stint shooting just 1-of-15 from the field, notching six assists and 12 turnovers. Anything that could have gone wrong for Jakucionis, did.

During his time in Las Vegas, Jakucionis certainly showed some signs of improvement. Through his first two games, Jakucionis averaged 15.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists while shooting 52.9% from the field and 45.5% from beyond the arc. He still turned the ball over 2.5 times per game, though.

That said, the Heat’s regrets may not stem from Jakucionis’ shakiness as much as they would from Clifford’s dominance in Summer League.

How has Nique Clifford played at Summer League?

Where Jakucionis has been shaky, Clifford has been rock solid. In his first three Summer League games with the Kings, Clifford has averaged 18.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 5.0 assists while shooting 58.3% from the field and 52.9% from deep.

At a glance, the stats don’t look that much different, especially considering Jakucionis’ improved efficiency in Vegas vs. California. But the way the two players carry themselves on the court is far different.

Where Jakucionis is driving into traffic, often without a plan, Clifford is carefully breaking down opposing defense. Where Jakucionis is struggling to find gaps, Clifford is running into his defender, stepping back, and nailing a triple in spite of the lack of space.

And on top of that, Clifford looks like the much more NBA-ready defender. Jakucionis could get there on that end, but Clifford looks ready to be a plus defender from Day 1.

Perhaps Jakucionis will explode onto the scene once he gets to Miami, but based on the limited sample size from Summer League, this could be a pick the Heat very much regret.

Based on the way Clifford has carried himself in Summer League, he looks like he has the chance to be a true star at the NBA level.