Miami Heat 1-on-1: The team’s biggest concerns of 2018-19

And do you feel like Justise Winslow is a bust, if he doesn’t end up improving his shot?

Tachauer: Justise Winslow never came into the league pretending to be the next Ray Allen. On top of that, a player’s college game rarely translates into the same thing on a professional level. So it seems a bit unfair to have ever expected Winslow to develop into a go-to, sharp-shooter for the Heat. Nevermind that his shoulder injury obviously stunted any possible growth in that area for almost an entire year. Winslow’s shooting is getting better, but even if he has hit his ceiling in that aspect of his game, it still wouldn’t mean he’s a bust. The 22-year-old has a handful of other skills that set him apart from not just other guys in Miami, but around the league period. And aside from raw talent, he has the interest and drive needed to be successful in such an environment; for the Heat, versatility is key, and he’s proven himself to be a well-rounded player. Point Winslow anyone?

Johnson: Anthony Bennett was a bust. Greg Oden, though partially out of his control, was a bust. Sam Bowie again, thanks to injury, was a bust. Possibly the most notorious No. 6 draft pick of all time, Johnny Flynn, was a bust. Shooting is certainly not Winslow’s strong suit – though he did have his best 3-point shooting year, albeit with a smaller sample size – but he’s by no mean a bust, if he never improves. His shot is a weakness, but it doesn’t completely derail his effectiveness. Winslow still contributed as a secondary ballhandler, defender and general high-morale teammate. Compared to the fourteen lottery pick in the 2015 NBA draft, only three have definitively had better careers: Karl-Anthony Towns, Devin Booker and Kristaps Porzingis. And even then, Porzingis has yet to play a fully healthy season, and rumors have suggested Towns has fallen out of favor with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Winslow, at just 22, still has time to prove his worth. If had spent more time in college though, this would be an entirely different conversation.

The Miami Heat may still have a few things to work through, but 2018-19 is bound to be a productive season nevertheless.