All eyes have been on the Miami Heat in recent weeks, as many are looking to navigate the confusion of the Jimmy Butler situation. As is the case when any top player sits, there are usually a couple of players looking to pick up the slack. In the case of Miami so far, it appears to be a tight-knit race between Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Nikola Jovic as to who will be premier add. While Jaquez has displayed some impressive highs, I personally believe that Jovic serves as both the more consistent add as well as the one you would want to prioritize, showcasing some unique skills that could serve to greatly improve the potency of the Heat in a post-Butler era. 

 

 

Little Chungus

 

In the same vein as the more famous Nikola Jokic, Jovic has proven to have much intrigue to the Heat as a point forward/center archetype. This is shown best by the rotation Erik Spoelstra has created following the suspension of Butler, in which he has opted to bring Jovic off of the bench in a more creative sixth man role, while limiting Jaquez to serve as a complementary piece in the starting lineup next to higher usage players such as Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo.

 

Jovic has taken full advantage of the faith entrusted to him by Spo, seeing him hit a consistent total of 4.1 assists per game over the eight games played in the last two weeks. While these are not the most mouth-watering of metrics (4 assists would only put him at fifth round value during that duration), it is notable that the Heat have never been a heliocentric team. With his teammates Bam and Herro also hovering around 4 assists per game without Butler, this could indicate a level of sustainability in the category when given the playtime. 

 

Jovic is able to create assists in a wide variety of ways, being used as a ball handler and screener in the pick and roll for the Heat. Two plays from their match in Portland particularly stood out as exciting glimpses into what could be for the young big, both coming from his ability to navigate both roles of the PnR. Firstly, he had a play where he set the screen for Duncan Robinson and then immediately dropped under the screen following a blitz on the ball handler. This allowed an easy pass in to set up a lob that he was able to find for Kel’el Ware in the dunkers spot. Later on in the quarter, he showed signs of an emerging two man game with Bam, in which his role as the ball handler on the PnR set him up for an open three (he missed, but I still insist it is a good sign). 

 

 

Jovic has consistently delivered assists to his team in this duration Butler has spent away from the Heat, proving to be a great out of position addition for the category. He sits at a Z-Score of only .2 during this timeframe, however he does rank inside the top 10 of eligible centers for the category. Only Ben Simmons joins him as relatively unrostered players in that club, highlighting just how unique the skillset can be as a point big man.   

 

Sustainable Scoring

 

Jovic has also flashed some important scoring skills as of late, taking up more and more usage with each game that passes. Given the Heat have a dearth of scoring options off of the bench, Jovic has also been tasked with looking to score when needed, rather than just solely looking to create for those around him. As is the case with any good playmaker, the ability to score is also going to be a foundational part of the game, something that Jovic has proven comfortable in demonstrating. 

 

Over the last two weeks of games, Jovic has built his way up to an average of 13.3 points per game. The most notable aspect of this rise comes in the way of his percentages, where he has been able to stick at a more or less league average rate despite the rise in usage. He currently sits averaging 43/32 splits in the recent games missed by Butler, a number that is quite similar to the 44/36 split that he has put up on the season so far. Very rarely does one see their field goal attempts nearly double without experiencing a noticeable drop off in the category, and yet Jovic has managed to do so on multiple occasions this season. 

 

Can the scoring be more efficient? Yes, no doubt. However, Jovic has never been a highly efficient player to begin with, and those picking him up should be much more excited by his volume rather than the percentages. The encouraging aspect of his scoring consistency comes from the fact that it looks sustainable, rather than just coming as the result of a hot streak capable of ending at any given moment. 

 

 

While his 13 points a night are not breaking any types of scoring records, it is notable that finding consistent scoring options on the wire can be nearly impossible. Most streaming options require long term injuries to crack a positive Z-Score in the category, and Jovic has been able to produce similar value to higher usage options such as Spencer Dinwiddie and Klay Thompson in this timeframe. This is a great indication of his ability going forward, especially given the usage bump he receives from coming off of the bench. 

 

Verdict

 

While the suspension of Butler is coming to an end soon (just completed today), Jovic has taken the opportunities in front of him with ease. He and Kel’el Ware are currently the only intriguing prospects that stand on the roster, so it is extremely hard to picture a world in which Jovic is not given an extensive run should Butler remain away from the team (or traded). Fortunately for fantasy managers so far, Jovic has proven a highly capable candidate for minutes with his play on the court, so he likely is able to retain a rotation spot going forward.

 

From a fantasy perspective, Jovic has been killing it of late. The last two weeks have seen him crest inside the top 90, all off of the back of sustainable totals. His fantasy profile fits the mold of other point forwards, with a high volume of assists at the expense of some traditional big stats. Not many young talents have that skill set, and finding a player like him off of the wire can prove to be a gem when looking for a balanced player.

 

While Jovic does require a bit more set up to get going (he is unlikely to keep this up with Butler around), the Heat and Butler are seemingly poised to go separate ways soon, which should serve as an encouraging step in the right direction. Given the nature of the situation, it is unlikely that the Heat would even receive any young forwards who might contest the minutes of Jovic, leaving him a prime stash candidate for the trade deadline. 

 

 

I believe that Jovic is a strong short term add for this week in nearly any format 12T or less, and those in a strong spot should look to hold him until the Butler situation has died down. Being able to put out a balanced top 90 ranking is something not commonly seen on the wire, and fantasy managers should have no difficulty fitting him in regardless of their punts. This only further highlights the importance he could have on a roster, being a great glue guy to fantasy managers when given the chance.