The 2015 NBA Summer League is officially under way in Orlando, as teams will be looking to send their youngest talent on the floor to begin the process of evaluating if they belong on the opening night roster or not.
For other players who were undrafted or possibly a little older, this is their chance to show they belong and have a place in this league for years to come.
ALSO ON HOOPSHABIT: 30 Greatest Ball Handlers of All-Time
Miami Heat draftee Justise Winslow doesn’t have to prove either of those things, as he was the tenth overall pick in the 2015 draft and will without a doubt be apart of the Heat’s rotation once the regular season gets underway.
However, this is a good opportunity for the organization to see exactly what they’re getting right now in Winslow and exactly how raw of a talent he is at this point.
More from Miami Heat
- 7 Players the Miami Heat might replace Herro with by the trade deadline
- Are the Miami Heat laying the groundwork for their next super team?
- Report: Miami Heat hoping to keep key player out of Lillard trade talks
- Grade the Trade: The Heat pass on Lillard to land an MVP in this proposal
- NBA Rumors: Heat have big plans to upgrade frontcourt if they land Lillard
In his professional debut Saturday morning in Orlando, there were a few negatives but plenty of bright spots to his game and where he stands right now.
Offense
Offensively, we knew about Winslow’s struggles from playing at Duke coming into the draft. He’s an athletic talent with good enough size that can get to the rim and draw contact or finish. A slasher at heart, he showed that off against the Indiana Pacers, getting to the line eight times and converting on six of his free throws.
He finished with 15 points overall on 4-of-8 shooting from the field, which isn’t a bad start to his pro career.
Free throws are going to be a key for Winslow to keep in mind moving forward, as he isn’t the most polished scorer from other areas of the floor yet, which was also on display in his debut. Winslow had a few clean looks at some mid-range attempts, and he didn’t seem to force any of his three-point attempts either, but he just couldn’t get a lot of those shots to drop.
There’s nothing wrong fundamentally with his form. He has a nice release point on his shot and goes up high and straight, but he doesn’t seem to have the ability to adjust his timing and release depending on where he is on the floor, which is something that comes naturally as you work on it more.
On a catch-and-shoot opportunity with his feet set, Winslow is a capable shooter. Off the bounce, not so much. But that’s something that Jimmy Butler, a player Winslow is often compared to, wasn’t the best at when he came out of college but he learned and improved. The same can go for Winslow as he works closer with the Heat staff over the years.
The good news is that he did look comfortable attacking the rim and making necessary cuts. Winslow also acted as a facilitator at times, getting the ball where it needed to go for the next pass. He even was able to drop in three assists of his own, showcasing his above-average vision for a wing.
Defense
This is the area of the game where Winslow really made his mark. Coming out of college the word on Winslow was that he has a chance to become one of the better defenders in the league. A high-energy defender in the mold of Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Winslow was pegged as someone that could come in and contribute on that end right away, and he didn’t disappoint against the Pacers.
Winslow didn’t look lost at all defensively, as he seemed to be involved in everything the team did. Whether it was guarding someone one-on-one, helping a teammate or crashing the lane to grab a defensive rebound and contest a shot at the rim, Winslow was very active and showed why he was a lottery pick in the first place.
Usually even the best defenders have a certain niche that their game falls under. For Winslow, that wasn’t the case as he displayed all the tools to be a top defender at the next level.
Sir Charles In Charge
The best part about Winslow’s defensive game was his ability to play the passing lanes and force turnovers, as he got two steals that led to good looks on the other end of the floor. Winslow’s ability to create turnovers and get the transition game going will be important for the Heat moving forward because Goran Dragic is a guard who loves to push the pace and take advantage of turnovers.
Verdict
Winslow played a solid game in his first professional outing. He could have shown off a more polished jump shot from a few spots on the floor, but he was able to connect on one of his three-point attempts, so it’s not like he’s unable to knock down an open shot when needed.
One thing he did prove was that he’s going to be a plus defender right away in the NBA, something that I’m sure Miami is definitely looking forward to.
Winslow may not be flashy in one particular area per say, but he has a nice all-around game that will translate in time.
Final Grade: B+
Next: Miami Will Love Josh Richardson
More from Hoops Habit
- The 5 most dominant NBA players who never won a championship
- 7 Players the Miami Heat might replace Herro with by the trade deadline
- Meet Cooper Flagg: The best American prospect since LeBron James
- Are the Miami Heat laying the groundwork for their next super team?
- Sophomore Jump: 5 second-year NBA players bound to breakout
[ssocials]