Miami Heat: Is Josh Richardson’s upside worth rejecting trades?

Could Josh Richardson turn into the two-way player the Miami Heat need?

For years, the talk has been that with some work, Justise Winslow could develop into the Miami Heat’s Kawhi Leonard, Jimmy Butler or Draymond Green.

Little did anyone know that it would be their 2015 second round pick who would be trending in that direction.

To place Josh Richardson in such a light seems a bit too soon, but take a look at him in comparison to Butler, and the two may have more in common than not.

For starters, both players came into the NBA with four-years of college experience and an expected ability to contribute on the defensive end; something that Richardson has already excelled at going into his fourth season.

Not only has he been called upon to guard the opposition’s best perimeter players, he put on his best Dwyane Wade impersonation when it comes to blocked shots (75) and steals (121) during the 2017-18 season.

One of the only players to put up such numbers in both categories last year.

But what about on the offensive end?

According to the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson, he “believes he can become an 18 point per game scorer, at the least.”

That would be a 5.1 point per game jump from last season, similar to the 6.9 point per game improvement Butler made in his fourth season.

Not to mention that their season averages in points, field goal and 3-point percentage after three seasons, are only a 2.2 points per game, .11 and .94 percent off from each other.

However, the biggest separation between the two comes in an area where Jackson says Richardson aimed to improve:

"“Working on handling and creating for myself and others… ,” said Richardson. “I have always been a guy that has to call for a ball screen or something to catch and shoot. I need to be able to attack more if I have space.”"

To his credit, Richardson is not wrong with his self-critique.

Out of 399 made field goals, only 170 of them were unassisted.

Also, 43.5 percent of the times he put up a shot, it was strictly on a catch-and-shoot opportunities—compared to Butler’s 16.8.

Add that to the fact that merely 14.8 percent of his field goals taken involved more than three dribbles, and it becomes evident why he cannot fully be mentioned at that level.

Richardson’s biggest problem was also the Heat’s main issue; they both lacked the ability to create on a regular basis, when having to put the basketball on the floor.

Developing that skill not only advances his game, but it also justifies Miami’s reluctance to toss Richardson in any trades—so far—for Butler or others.

Richardson is definitely still a work in progress, but his ceiling is high.