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Miami Heat Roundtable: What does Justise Winslow’s future look like?

By Allana Tachauer

WASHINGTON, D.C. - OCTOBER 5: Justise Winslow #20 of the Miami Heat looks on during a pre-season game against Washington Wizards on October 5, 2018 at Capital One Arena, in Washington, D.C. 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 Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, D.C. - OCTOBER 5: Justise Winslow #20 of the Miami Heat looks on during a pre-season game against Washington Wizards on October 5, 2018 at Capital One Arena, in Washington, D.C. 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 Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – OCTOBER 5: Justise Winslow #20 of the Miami Heat looks on during a pre-season game against Washington Wizards on October 5, 2018 at Capital One Arena, in Washington, D.C. 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 Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – OCTOBER 5: Justise Winslow #20 of the Miami Heat looks on during a pre-season game against Washington Wizards on October 5, 2018 at Capital One Arena, in Washington, D.C. 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 Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images) /

In this week’s AllUCanHeat Roundtable, the staff discusses all things Justise Winslow.

Alright, what will Justise Winslow have to accomplish this year, for people to stop doubting him?

Imran Ebrahim (@iebrahim81): Well now that Winslow has gotten his contract, I don’t think there’s anything that he can do that would make people stop doubting him. There’s a much bigger onus on him to live up to something now, even after being a top-10 pick. With every mistake that he makes, there will be a crowd of people that’ll say “Yeah, but…” and for every good play he makes, that crowd will come back and say “He gets paid to make more plays than that…” So he’s definitely in a lose-lose situation right now. What I would like to see is for him to solidify his status as a ball-handler/decision-maker, and a solid-to-elite wing defender. He’s always been a jack-of-all trades, and while that’s always good to have (James Johnson comes to mind), I think it’s time he hones into one or two specific abilities and perfects them.

Jack Leniart (@Leniart_ND): I think he will have to continue his strong play on the defensive end of the court and show signs of improvement as a shooter. I disagree slightly at the notion that many fans are doubting Winslow. Maybe some fans just had higher expectations for a player drafted in the first round. While that is understandable, Winslow has certainly proven he could be a solid role player for this team for years to come. He also adds to the defensive-minded DNA of the Miami Heat. Maybe that is his ceiling. If that is the case, I would consider him to be a successful draft pick.

Chase Eyrich (@ceyrich): He is going to have to develop into an elite defender. It’s already a strong part of his game, but now he has to set himself apart. If he can slow down some of the tougher matchups he’ll face this season, he can prove his worth.

Brandon Johnson (@bjohnsonNBA): NBA fans are a fickle bunch. Ideally, if Winslow can keep showing signs of improvement—finishing at the rim, playmaking—he will be an integral part of the Heat. Maybe not the next star, but certainly a useful contributor. More realistically, Winslow’s expectations are huge, especially with Josh Richardson looking like the better of the two 2015 Heat draft picks. Unless Winslow lives up to or surpasses his Kawhi Leonard comparisons, his critics will stay fixated on his “underwhelming” development.

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