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Miami Heat: Derrick Jones Jr. will learn a lot this upcoming season

By Lauren Gewirtz

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 8: Willy Hernangomez (41) of the Charlotte Hornets and Derrick Jones Jr. (5) of the Miami Heat reach for the tip-off during the game on July 8, 2018 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 8: Willy Hernangomez (41) of the Charlotte Hornets and Derrick Jones Jr. (5) of the Miami Heat reach for the tip-off during the game on July 8, 2018 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Derrick Jones Jr. will learn a lot with the Miami Heat this season.

Despite a quiet offseason so far for the Heat, there is one thing that fans do know: the organization is committing to its youth.

Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reported last week that the Heat are not offering up any young players or future first round picks in trade talks. Aside from that, the Heat signed 21-year-old Derrick Jones Jr. to a standard contract. He played on a two-way contract with the team last season.

Summer League

In case you need a refresher (or were caught up in baseball), 6-foot-7 Jones Jr. put a show on during his few games in Summer League, showing versatility and range. Not to mention going into Airplane Mode a few times:

Although Heat Summer League is a small sample size, Jones Jr. still averaged an impressive 21.3 points, 7.7 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game. This type of performance certainly gave fans another young player to keep their eyes on this upcoming season.

Lessons to learn

Fortunately for Jones Jr., there are a few players that he can learn from in his first full year with the Heat.

Of course, the first one is Dwyane Wade, a player that just about anyone can learn from because of his 17 years of experience in the league. Wade can teach not only about the game, but about attitude and mentality – something that he has probably been working on with Hassan Whiteside.

Jones Jr. can also work on improving his 3-point shot, learning from newly re-signed Wayne Ellington. Ellington is the team’s best from behind the arc, as he shot 39 percent last season. This is a player that can definitely give Jones Jr. tips on how to better his shot from downtown.

Besides some of the other tenured players like Goran Dragic and James Johnson, Jones Jr. can actually stand to learn a lot from the youth around him too.

Bam Adebayo and Justice Winslow will surely provide insight into what it is like to be a younger player not only in the league, but specifically with the Heat, which should be a valuable lesson; especially for a guy transitioning out of the G-League.

Jones Jr. will not just soak up pure skill or on-court tactics either. He is going to get a lesson or two on Heat Culture, something that may prove to be most important in the long run.

Next: Is LeBron James going to remain a Laker or come back to the Miami Heat?

The newest Miami Heat member has a bright future ahead.

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