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Miami Heat 1-on-1: The team’s outlook before training camp

By Imran Ebrahim

MIAMI, FL - DECEMBER 22: Dion Waiters #11 of the Miami Heat handles the ball against the Dallas Mavericks on December 22, 2017 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. 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 2017 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - DECEMBER 22: Dion Waiters #11 of the Miami Heat handles the ball against the Dallas Mavericks on December 22, 2017 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. 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 2017 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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MIAMI, FL – MARCH 04: Derrick Jones Jr. #5 and Josh Richardson #0 of the Miami Heat participate in the 2018 Family Festival at the American Airlines Area on March 4, 2018 in Miami, Florida. 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 NBAE 2018 (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL – MARCH 04: Derrick Jones Jr. #5 and Josh Richardson #0 of the Miami Heat participate in the 2018 Family Festival at the American Airlines Area on March 4, 2018 in Miami, Florida. 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 NBAE 2018 (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Which Heat player has the most to prove at training camp?

Mora: I think it’s Derrick Jones Jr. I think he has to be involved with the young core. Adebayo, Winslow, Richardson, and Jones Jr. should be the future for Miami. They can be. He is quick and has a great basketball IQ, especially for a young player. He can adapt and with his build, it’s key for Miami. With so many guards, they need a lanky, strong small forward, that can transition the mid-range game. He can do that. He has shown flashes of that and can still improve. He was a stud at Summer League and since his second year of the current two year contract, is non-guaranteed, he needs to prove himself now more than ever. So, expect big things from him this year.

Ebrahim: I want to say Hassan Whiteside, but training camp isn’t the ideal place to find out how he’s gonna handle not being in the game during a close fourth quarter or ceding minutes to Adebayo. So, I think I’m going to have to go with Winslow. The team is going to have to make a decision on his long-term status sooner than later; he has to show that his game has evolved to a level where he’s worthy of a second contract and if so, what that second contract gives him. That means looking at his ball-handling, his decision-making, his touch from outside during scrimmages, his switch-ability on defense, etc. They need to get him in as many situations as they can, to see how he’s developed over the offseason.

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