What is Josh Richardson’s ceiling next season?
Josh Richardson figures to be a part of the Miami Heat’s future, but how good can he be?
Possibly the steal of last year’s draft, Josh Richardson bursted onto the scene after the All-Star break and proved to be a legitimate NBA player. Now, the Miami Heat need Richardson to take that next leap from “capable” to big-time contributor.
Known for his size (6-foot-6) and athleticism, the 22-year-old combo guard reached into his oversized top hat and pulled out an unexpected 3-point shot.
Richardson was an occasional shooter in college, but during his four years he only averaged 31.8 percent from beyond the arc. Taking into account the extended line distance and the difficulties of transitioning to the pros, no one expected Richardson to be a lethal perimeter shooter, but that’s exactly what happened.
Post All-Star break, Richardson shot an astonishing 53.3 percent from long range. During that span, he led the league in 3-point percentage (25 shot attempt minimum), per ESPN.
Along with spreading the floor, Richardson also proved to be great defensively. The two-way guard had a Net Rating of +7.9 over the second half of the season.
read more: How the Heat can fit Durant under the cap
No one can deny Richardson was a pleasant surprise, but the big question now is whether he can continue to develop or did he simply have a few good months?
Heat fans might scoff at the idea of Richardson’s rookie season being a bit of a fluke, but it’s not everyday you see a second round pick become a reliable 3-and-D option in his first year in the league. Hell, it even took Draymond Green longer than a year.
It’s also fair to assume Richardson won’t be a plus-50 percent shooter from beyond the arc going forward. During the playoffs, his numbers regressed to a more human-like level, connecting at a 37 percent on 3-point attempts; which is still pretty good.
However, Richardson struggled from anywhere else, and only shot 37.2 percent on 2-point attempts.
Bright news for hopeful Heat fans: even with his scoring struggles, Richardson made a positive impact, posting a +5.9 net rating for the postseason.
It’s probably safe to assume that even if Richardson can’t recreate his Steph Curry-like shooting, he will still be able to contribute solely because of his athleticism and defensive capabilities.
One of Richardson’s biggest flaws is his inability to create his own shot, which is fine because he proved to be pretty darn good on catch-and-shoot opportunities. On such attempts, Richardson had an effective field goal percentage of 65.8 percent, per NBA.com.
All in all, Richardson has a pretty promising future with a very low floor. His combination of size, athleticism, shooting and defense, makes it hard to imagine a team that couldn’t benefit from simply having him on their roster.
read more: Wade says he'll shoot more 3s next season
Due to his lack of facilitating or ability to score in isolation, Richardson’s potential might be somewhat limited, but it’s fair to expect only delightful things from him going forward.
At the worst, the Heat found themselves a 3-and-D combo guard, which ain’t half bad for a second round pick.