Miami Heat: Grading The Offseason

The Draft

The Heat did an exemplary job plotting out their moves this summer, but sometimes it doesn’t hurt to be a little lucky. With the 10th overall pick in the draft, Miami was going to add a lottery-level talent no matter what, but nobody was expecting it to be a player that was once considered a top-5 prospect by most.

But when the Charlotte Hornets took Frank Kaminsky at No. 9, that’s exactly what fell into Riley’s lap in Justise Winslow, a two-way small forward coming off a national championship with the Duke Blue Devils. The Heat were able to hang onto Luol Deng when he surprisingly opted into the final year of his contract, but Winslow represents a long-term replacement on the wing.

Winslow didn’t exactly blow anyone away at NBA Summer League, averaging 9.0 points and 2.2 rebounds in 20.3 minutes per game (in six appearances). He struggled offensively and was not quite the imposing defender/turnover-creator that most are expecting him to become.

But Summer League should always be taken with a grain of salt, so Winslow’s underwhelming shooting percentages — 33.8 percent from the field and 31.2 percent from three-point range — aren’t cause for concern just yet. Even better, the Heat can allow their 19-year-old first round steal to develop on his own terms while playing behind Deng in the rotation.

In the second round, Miami used its 40th overall pick on Josh Richardson, a 6’6″ shooting guard from Tennessee who’s capable of playing two or three different positions. In 10 Summer League games, Richardson averaged 11.8 points per game and shot 38.6 percent from three-point range, earning him a three-year, $2.5 million deal worth the minimum each season.

Between Richardson’s versatility and Winslow’s status as the potential steal of the draft who brings defensive prowess, three-point shooting and jaw-dropping athleticism, the Heat vastly upgraded their talent on the wing with a tremendous draft.

Grade: A+

Next: Re-Enter The Dragon