“Sean Marks should be arrested” – Bill Simmons lauds Riley and the Heat for stealing Kasparas Jakucionis after the Nets passed on him originally appeared on Basketball Network.
The 2025 NBA Draft had its moments, but one of the most notable moments was, like every year, a team seemingly stealing a highly touted guy with a late pick. Bill Simmons didn’t say much when the Miami Heat landed Kasparas Jakucionis with the 20th pick, but he said just enough.
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“Jakucionis is good. Sean Marks should be arrested,” Bill exclaimed while being in awe of Pat Riley‘s pick and taking a shot at the Brooklyn Nets.
How Miami landed a lottery talent
Jakucionis, a 6’6″ guard from Illinois, was widely projected as a lottery pick, No. 10 on ESPN’s big board and No. 14 on Bleacher Report’s. Yet, somehow, as the selections rolled by, Kasparas slipped right into Miami’s lap. For a franchise that has made a habit of finding gems and maximizing talent, it felt like déjà vu.
“He fills the box score,” Simmons said on his podcast.
“He’ll play 23 minutes a game next year, and he’ll get like 12 points, five assists, five rebounds and one steal. He is just gonna be good. It really is annoying to me. Then they’ll sign [Jonathan] Kuminga or do some sign-and-trade for him, and guess what? He’ll be good for them, too. Then all sudden, we’ll be like, ‘Jesus Christ, we’re back with the Heat?’ I thought we killed them. We thought they were dead,” he added.
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The Heat’s ability to snag players who fit their culture and system is legendary. A lifelong Boston Celtics fan, Simmons has seen it too many times to count. However, the main culprit for this revival of the Celtics’ rivals is already mentioned Nets’ GM Sean Marks.
The Nets had five picks and decided to use them all. They even drafted three point guards, but none of them was Jakucionis, which allowed Heat to take him with the 20th pick, which was way lower than he should have been.
Jakucionis’ fit with Heat Culture
Kasparas brings everything a classic point guard should have. He has size, versatility and a high basketball IQ. Jakucionis is a natural playmaker who can run pick-and-roll with Bam Adebayo, play off Tyler Herro and defend multiple positions. The Heat’s front office, led by Riley and Erik Spoelstra, has built a reputation for turning overlooked prospects into rotation staples and, sometimes, stars. The Illinois product looks poised to be the next name on that list.
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Simmons’ frustration boiled over as he watched other teams pass on Jakucionis, culminating in his tongue-in-cheek call for Nets GM Marks to be “arrested” for letting Miami steal such talent outside the lottery.
“It just bothers me. You shouldn’t be able to snag a player like that at 20. How do they manage it?” Simmons asked his co-hosts in despair.
The answer, as always, seems to be Heat Culture — a mix of relentless scouting, player development and a system that gets the most out of every player who buys in, led by The Godfather at the top.
For Miami, Jakucionis’s selection is more than just another smart pick; it allows them to fill in the hole they had last season, and with the East being very open, Miami could easily play in the postseason once again. They got their guy, and the rest of the league, including Simmons, will be watching, wondering and maybe just a little bit jealous.
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This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 27, 2025, where it first appeared.