How bright is the future for Miami Heat forward Justise Winslow?
So how hyped on Justise Winslow were you when the Miami Heat first drafted him?
Imran Ebrahim (@iebrahim81): If I’m not mistaken, this was the draft right after the Miami Heat traded for Goran Dragic. The team had Dwyane Wade, Luol Deng, and Chris Bosh. So I remember reading up on the draft and seeing them grab either Frank Kaminsky, Myles Turner… I never expected Justise Winslow to fall to No. 10 and then to hear that Charlotte “supposedly” passed on Boston’s insane offer for him, I thought for sure he was a complete steal. I started reading up on him and saw comparisons to Jimmy Butler, Wilson Chandler, and some even said that his game could develop like Kawhi Leonard’s. Pairing that with Bosh, Dragic, Deng, Wade, and Whiteside who were all averaging double figures at the time felt like sure-fire hit.
Rich Nurse (@followthepen): Winslow was projected to go much higher than No. 10, but the excitement was shaky due to Duke’s propensity for developing more disappointments than stars. Beyond that, watching Winslow in college was underwhelming. His best work came in the paint, where he had trouble finishing over length. And his jump shot was somewhat of an enigma. He knocked down 3-pointers at a 42 percent clip, but pre-draft scouts pointed out his total lack of a midrange game; strange because the college 3 is nothing more than a long-range NBA two. Not exactly a thing one would expect to translate. However, joy came from thinking president Pat Riley made the pick as good grace gesture towards Kevin Durant before the next summer’s free agency. Why else would he use Winslow’s interdictory press conference to acknowledge “the good people” at their Roc Nation Sports team?