Miami Heat: Are injuries derailing Justise Winslow’s future?

Miami Heat forward Justise Winslow is still sidelined, begging the question of what’s to come in his future?

For the tenth straight time this Wednesday, Miami Heat forward Justise Winslow will miss a game due to a strain in his left knee. Diagnosed in mid-December, the Heat haven’t set a time table for his return.

If this sounds familiar, it is. This time last year, Winslow was also sidelined, albeit for a labrum tear in his right shoulder, that limited him to just 18 games in the 2016-17 season.

Selected No. 10 overall in the 2015 NBA Draft, Winslow quickly garnered support as part of Miami’s next generation. A year removed from the dominance of the LeBron James “Heatles” era, Winslow still had the opportunity to learn from the Heat’s class acts of Chris Bosh, Udonis Haslem, and of course, Dwyane Wade.

Arriving in Miami, Wade and Winslow immediately clicked, and the saavy veteran assisted in developing Winslow’s game as an undersized defender and scorer.

"“I always admired guards that posted up,” said Winslow to the Sun Sentinel in 2015. He continued, “So everybody from Kobe, Wade, M.J. a little bit, a little bit before my time, but just as a kid watching those guys post up, just take advantage in the low block.”"

Now, without Wade’s steady guidance, Winslow has shown his ability to grow on his own. He has improved his stats across the board from his rookie year, and showed improved dexterity in ball-handling, rebounding and attacking the rim. For Miami, Winslow has been a perfect pet project, capable of tackling the toughest defensive assignments, while demonstrating his penchant for developing a nuanced game.

His biggest enemy, though? Staying on the court.

Despite the hubbub around his growth, Winslow’s injury history might be plaguing his career outlook more than it’s hurting the Heat.

To the naked eye, both Winslow’s shoulder and knee injuries appeared to be minor. After the shoulder injury last year, even Winslow himself believed it to be inconsequential, assuring coaches he’d be ready to compete with some rest.

An MRI said otherwise, and the forward missed the remainder of the season, leaving plenty of time to rectify any underlying discomfort. The story with his knee this season is just the same; an anti-climactic exit in a December matchup against the Portland Trailblazers marked the start of this series of missed games.

Though he remains positive after each injury, the reality is that Winslow’s career trajectory is taking a beating. Overwhelmed with injuries this season, Winslow’s absence is just another drop in the bucket for the Heat. Each of Miami’s starters, save Josh Richardson, has missed at least one game with an ailment and the Heat have cycled through their share of G-League callups.

Winslow’s absence however, does more to dilute his future contract earnings and trade value should he and Miami ever part ways. As it stands, Winslow is still in the clear. He only turns 22 in March and has proved his ability to avoid re-injuring the same affliction.

But the Heat, who currently sit at seventh in the Eastern Conference (just 1.5 games out of fourth) have lacked any major trade transactions over the last two years. With injuries to potential young pieces, Whiteside, Winslow and Josh Richardson, diverting the eyes of would-be suitors.

Should Miami want to make a push for an offensive stalwart who can help them leap through the East’s rankings, they lack healthy players to use in a swap. On the other hand, should Winslow get a Kyrie Irving-like itch to jump ship, his resume is besmirched with 77 injury related absences in a possible 200 games played over his three seasons thus far.

At present, Miami has made out fine slapping band-aids on its walking wounded. Heat culture thrives on the all-in mentality, and major plays from newcomers like Bam Adebayo and Jordan Mickey have kept confidence levels stable around South Beach.

Next: Miami Heat big man Hassan Whiteside is still developing his game

The clock is ticking however, not against the Heat organization, but against Winslow, and the rest of the core, whose appearances on injured-reserved lists are replacing the rose-tint on their futures.