Miami Heat NBA Draft: Watson May Not Leave UCLA Yet, But It Won’t Be Long
In his freshman season, Watson’s best offensive performance came on November 22nd, as he delivered a 19-point effort on 9-12 shooting. The Bruins would defeat Bellarmine University, 75-62, in the Good Sam Empire Classic.
Since then, Watson’s hasn’t had many opportunities to see the floor, averaging just under 14 minutes a game and playing less than 10 minutes in his last three games. As a result, his draft stock has seemingly slipped, making it unlikely that he declares for the 2022 NBA Draft.
If Watson were to be drafted this June though, he would be the 88th player to be selected from UCLA. He would join fellow UCLA alumni and current NBA stars, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Love, Zach LaVine, and Jrue Holiday, but also a legendary group that includes Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Reggie Miller, Gail Goodrich, and Kiki VanDeWeghe.
Watson has all the tools to become an impact player in the NBA. If he can find a situation where his talent is valued and can be showcased consistently, that would increase those chances multiple times over.
A team such as the Miami Heat should be among the interested, as his profile, ability, and raw athleticism are exactly what they favor. It’s never too early to have a vision for intriguing prospects and for Watson, the opportunity is well worth it.