Sacramento Kings: What About Justise Winslow?

Though big men like Willie Cauley-Stein and Kristaps Porzingis are commonly mentioned as obvious picks for the Sacramento Kings in the upcoming NBA Draft, there are a number of excellent players who are floated as less presumptive choices. Prior to and following last week’s draft lottery, one such player has been Duke small forward Justise Winslow.

Apr 6, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Duke Blue Devils forward Justise Winslow (12) lays the ball up over Wisconsin Badgers guard Bronson Koenig (24) during the second half in the 2015 NCAA Men /

I’ve previously highlighted some of Cauley-Stein’s talents and where he would fit in with the Kings, either as a long-term rim protector in Sacramento or as a potential trade piece. While Cauley-Stein would be a clearer building block with a specific set of skills, Winslow presents himself as a more balanced contributor – an all-’rounder whose skills on both ends make him an ideal young addition to most teams.

Ones looking to shore up deficiencies on both ends (not unlike the Kings) would be wise to take him, but the choice in this situation comes down not only to availability but to prioritization. Winslow and Cauley-Stein were both key components of their respective teams (Cauley-Stein was part of John Calipari’s astounding Kentucky team this past season), and both have had their share of pixels and ink devoted to speculation over which of the top ten draft slots they’ll be pulled into.

Having just finished his freshman season (as an NCAA champion, no less), Winslow, whether by his smaller sample size or by genuine potential, seems the clearer versatility player for teams needing some fresh glue to hold together a shifting roster. His defensive talents are numerous: per 40 minutes, he averaged 1.2 blocks and 1.8 steals per game, and 8.9 total rebounds, according to sports-reference.com.

Beyond that, he is a real offensive contributor. With 12.6 points per game during the ’14-’15 season (averaging under 30 minutes on the floor in each contest), he is not a pure obstruction player. He tends to go for mid-range shots if he doesn’t drill into the paint, and is .516 from two-point range. On the occasions when he selects a three-pointer, he does so effectively – hitting 46 of his 110 attempts (.418 for those without a calculator) over the course of last season.

So, his numbers are solid, but when selecting a one-and-done player, looking at intangibles helps to paint much of a player’s portrait despite the mass of canvas left to be filled in his NBA career. Winslow handles himself with a physical confidence that promises much, and could well deliver if he is paired with the Kings’ sterling assembly of development-minded personnel. Just take a look at this Blue Devil taking on Gonzaga in the Elite Eight a couple months ago:

Let’s break down this example of Winslow in a high-stakes game. At this early stage in his development, he’s able to get longer shots off quickly and cleanly. The three-point abilities Winslow possesses at the moment would give him the benefit of the doubt as someone who can stretch the floor as well as swim in paint. Additionally, his footwork and athletic form is well-honed, and he is able to use that on both ends of the floor. When he’s covering his man, he is laterally quick enough to force sloppy shots or inaccurate passing. Should that fail, he stays engaged and goes for a block or rebound. That footwork and determined poise follows Winslow into his offense, where he is able to mitigate his relatively underwhelming height by becoming a bowling ball. He is glue on defense, and teflon on offense. Add to that some professional-level spit-shine, and Winslow could become a fairly dangerous presence in any team’s lineup.

His versatility gives him a bigger toolbox to call upon, and having that breadth of game situation capability only make his transition to the league easier. That versatility has already earned him some honorable mentions – he was the ACC’s third-highest-scoring freshman for the 2014-2015 season, and Duke’s third-highest scorer overall, behind center Jahlil Okafor and guard Quinn Cook. Putting up shots is not the be-all-end-all of a successful contributor, and Sacramento Kings head coach George Karl would likely be interested in having a quick forward who executes on the boards and in transition with any semblance of smoothness.

When compared to Willie Cauley-Stein, the differences in style and ability are fairly clear. The selection of Cauley-Stein would be a more one-sided move, and would signal a move toward a thoroughly modern style of basketball with a European flavor. Though his discernible positives would help the Kings or anyone willing to trade for him, he is not an excellent contributor through and through. His rim protection would become a trademark, but it seems unlikely that, given his longer collegiate development, he would suddenly become the two-way force that Winslow already is.

Winslow, whether in Sacramento or with a Kings trade partner, would be a long-term building block who seems more pliable. Whether one is a better choice than the other remains to be seen, and won’t be apparent until their talents are applied in the NBA. Both young men present exciting additions to whomever employs them as of this fall.

Next: Who Do The Kings Snag In Our Latest NBA Mock Draft?

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