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NBA: Post-Summer League Rookie Of The Year Standings

By Ezra Siegel

Jul 10, 2015; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Karl-Anthony Towns (32) shoots against the defense of Los Angeles Lakers center Robert Upshaw (12) during an NBA Summer League game at Thomas & Mack Center. Minnesota won the game 81-68. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 10, 2015; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Karl-Anthony Towns (32) shoots against the defense of Los Angeles Lakers center Robert Upshaw (12) during an NBA Summer League game at Thomas & Mack Center. Minnesota won the game 81-68. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 25, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Justise Winslow (Duke) greets NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the number ten overall pick to the Miami Heat in the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 25, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Justise Winslow (Duke) greets NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the number ten overall pick to the Miami Heat in the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

10. Justise Winslow – Miami Heat

Winslow falling to the Miami Heat with the No. 10 pick was one of the biggest surprises of the 2015 NBA Draft, and he’s already showing his value.

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After wowing fans and scouts during Duke’s championship run in the 2015 NCAA Tournament, Winslow was often touted as the draft’s top wing prospect. According to DraftExpress, he was at times considered a top-4 prospect, and although that ranking may have been a little generous, he was certainly not supposed to make it to Pat Riley at No. 10.

Perhaps with a chip on his shoulder, Winslow now joins a Heat team that knows a lot about winning after four Finals appearances in the last five years. The type of winning culture is perfect for a prospect like Winslow who knows how to win after claiming a state championship in high school and a national title as a college freshman.

While Winslow immediately steps into a winning atmosphere in Miami, his game will suffer in that he will be playing a reduced role compared to most other top-10 prospects. Behind veteran wings in Dwyane Wade, Luol Deng and Gerald Green, the rookie likely will be hard pressed for big minutes, especially late in games.

On the other hand, Winslow does have a variety of NBA-ready skills. With a strong frame and a pit-bullish defensive attitude, he should be able to keep up with veteran NBA scorers from his earliest minutes on the court.

At the Orlando and Las Vegas NBA Summer Leagues, Winslow showed his defensive potential, but struggled on the offensive end while shooting a brutal 34 percent from the field and an even worse 13 percent from downtown. Though he wasn’t as bad as the numbers suggest from an eye-test standpoint, he clearly has some work to do on that end of the floor.

Overall, Winslow’s intensity and defensive prowess should lead him to a long and fruitful NBA career. However, with raw offensive skills and a variety of veterans ahead of him in the depth chart, Winslow is likely a long shot for Rookie of the Year.

Next: The Promising Latvian