Miami Heat 2022 NBA Draft: Peyton Watson Is A Must-Watch Athlete

Peyton Watson #23 of the UCLA Bruins is defended by Pelle Larsson #3 of the Arizona Wildcats(Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
Peyton Watson #23 of the UCLA Bruins is defended by Pelle Larsson #3 of the Arizona Wildcats(Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
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Miami Heat
UCLA Bruins guard Peyton Watson (23) moves to the basket against guard Jaylen Clark (0)(Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports)

Miami Heat NBA Draft: Peyton Watson Is A Must-Watch Athlete

As we begin to dive into a player that should be on the Miami Heat’s prospect radar, a major takeaway from Watson’s basketball ability is his on-court presence.

WATSON IS A GIFTED ATHLETE WITH AN IMMEDIATE DEFENSIVE PRESENCE

At 6’8” and 200 pounds, Watson carries a wingspan measurement of 7’6” — which is breathtaking given that he’s 19 years old. As hybrid forwards are becoming more common in the NBA, it still remains a plus for any team to have one assigned to their rotation.

Miami, a potent team defensively that is still in need of help-side rim protection, isn’t an exception.

https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/1481831497409593347

Though Watson is highly capable of contributing right away as a shot-blocker, he offers much more than just the ability to come up with rejections.

He can be inserted at either wing position and has impeccable timing to either switch on defensive rotations or lurk through the passing lanes to create transition opportunities. Check this next sequence out.

https://twitter.com/UCLAMBB/status/1456448116622716930

It’s for certain that Miami will continue their search for youth and athleticism, while Watson’s defensive instincts, alone, should undoubtedly provoke future team success.

For imagination’s purposes and seeing Peyton’s abilities, they would certainly be a strong complement to the Miami Heat’s franchise centerpiece, the ultra-talented and athletic Bam Adebayo. That could just be the tip of the iceberg with this guy though.