Heat rumors: Could Jaime Jaquez Jr. win Sixth Man of the Year and then be traded?

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Julian Ojeda, ClutchPoints

Wed, Apr 15, 2026 ·

4 min read

Heat rumors: Could Jaime Jaquez Jr. win Sixth Man of the Year and then be traded? appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here .

The Miami Heat enter a pivotal offseason following their 127-126 Play-In loss to the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday night, with new reporting raising questions about the future of Jaime Jaquez Jr. — even as he emerges as a leading candidate for Sixth Man of the Year.

According to ClutchPoints NBA insider Brett Siegel, Miami’s roster decisions this summer could place Jaquez in a complicated position , particularly as the organization explores potential blockbuster trade scenarios.

“Riley and this front office will be willing to give the Bucks anything they want outside of Adebayo , much like they were willing to do in February. The only difference now is that in addition to centering their package around Tyler Herro , Kel’el Ware, and Jaime Jaquez Jr., Miami can also add three legitimate first-round picks and three pick swaps,” Siegel wrote, referencing a possible pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo should the Milwaukee Bucks star request a trade.

Beyond trade speculation, Siegel highlighted Jaquez’s individual trajectory, noting his resurgence after an uneven sophomore season.

“Aside from all the trade talks that will surround the Heat this offseason, Jaime Jaquez Jr. finds himself in an intriguing position with the franchise,” Siegel reported.

“After drawing a lot of criticism for his slight regression and falling out of the rotations at times during his sophomore season, Jaquez bounced back in a huge way during the 2025-26 season, averaging 15.4 points per game and scoring the most points off the bench by any player this season.”

Jaime Jaquez Jr.’s Sixth Man of the Year push adds complexity to Heat’s extension outlook

Jaquez’s production has placed him firmly in contention for Sixth Man of the Year, a distinction that would carry historical significance for the franchise.

“That is why Jaquez is in the running for Sixth Man of the Year and has a very compelling case to win the award, which would make him and Herro (2022) the only players in franchise history to receive this honor,” Siegel added.

The 25-year-old forward delivered a career-best campaign in his third NBA season, averaging 15.4 points, five rebounds and 4.7 assists per game while shooting 50.7% from the field, 31.7% from three-point range and 76.9% from the free-throw line across 75 appearances. He started just one game while averaging 28.3 minutes per contest, solidifying his role as a key contributor off the bench.

Despite that progress, contractual and financial considerations complicate his outlook in Miami.

“Whether he wins the award or not, Jaquez will enter the offseason with one year remaining on his rookie contract and wanting to lock in his future,” Siegel wrote.

“Miami has exercised a lot of caution in recent years when it comes to contract extensions, other than giving Nikola Jovic a four-year extension over $60 million last offseason, so it’s unknown whether they would lock in Jaquez right now.”

Cap constraints, trade value could make Jaquez odd man out for Miami

Salary structure remains a central factor. With Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro and Andrew Wiggins projected to earn over $110 million combined next season, flexibility is limited.

“Just looking at the money on the Heat’s books, it’s hard to see where Jaquez’s potential extension, which would most likely be in the $16 million to $22 million per year region, would fit in,” Siegel noted.

“Not to mention, Powell will be a free agent, and if Miami brings him back, that is even less money available for a possible Jaquez extension.”

Those constraints, combined with Jaquez’s value as a potential trade asset, could leave him vulnerable in offseason negotiations.

“Between being a potential main asset in trade talks for a star and the Heat not having enough financial flexibility after giving Jovic the extension they probably should have waited to give to Jaquez, this season’s potential Sixth Man of the Year could be an odd man out in the equation,” Siegel concluded.

As Miami evaluates its roster around Adebayo and explores star-level acquisitions, Jaquez’s future remains uncertain — even as his on-court production positions him among the league’s top reserves.