'Devastating,' Jaime Jaquez Jr. Drops Honest Quote About Heat Trading Him to Bucks for Giannis

Fourth-year forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. didn't love experiencing for the first time how quickly your career circumstances can change in the NBA.

The Miami Heat included Jaquez in the trade that landed them Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Milwaukee Bucks.

"I knew that it was definitely a possibility that it was going to happen," he said, per the Miami Herald's Anthony Chiang. "But you're never truly prepared for what it does. So, once I got the news, it was definitely devastating for sure. I love Miami. I love this city. It really felt like home to me.

"But with that being said, man, I'm super excited to get with this new team. I feel like there's a lot of opportunity for me in Milwaukee. And I'm really just happy to get out there and make my mark there in Milwaukee."

Beyond having to make the move up north to Wisconsin, Jaquez is swapping one franchise with championship aspirations to one that could be headed for a lengthy rebuild. The Bucks are 29th in Bleacher Report's most recent NBA power rankings.

The trade could have a silver lining for Jaquez if he winds up making Milwaukee's starting rotation.

The 2023 first-round pick was runner-up for Sixth Man of the Year after averaging 15.4 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.7 assists this past season. A year out from restricted free agency, he may be assuming a bigger role, which has an accompanying bump to his production.

Jaquez told Chiang he's "not really too worried about that right now" in reference to an extension.

His change of scenery might boost his earning power if he waits to sign his next contract next summer. Should that prove true, leaving Miami behind wouldn't have been the worst thing.