The Miami Heat will bring in the reigning ACC Player of the Year Justin Jackson for a pre-draft workout — one of the team’s many enticing options in the 2017 NBA Draft.
There have been multiple reports over recent weeks regarding draft prospects coming to South Florida to work out in front of Miami Heat officials.
On Monday, we got word of another one: Justin Jackson, one of the names most commonly linked with Pat Riley‘s team for the 2017 NBA Draft, will join the likes of Dwayne Bacon, Ivan Rabb and Zach Collins as players personally scouted by the Heat. (The Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson was the first to break the news.)
The fit between Jackson and Miami is obvious.
The Heat, even with a healthy Justise Winslow returning from injury, lack size on the wing. Once the former Dukie went down with a torn labrum back in January, head coach Erik Spoelstra was stuck with slotting Rodney McGruder — a 6’4″ rookie 2-guard — as his starting 3. And though McGruder acquitted himself wonderfully, it goes without saying the team still lacks depth at that position.
That’s where Jackson comes into the picture. The 6’8″ wing prospect had an excellent junior campaign, averaging 18.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.6 three-pointers per game on .443/.370/.748 shooting splits.
In particular, his three-point shooting, which had been a major weakness before his third college season, greatly improved. And it’s those improvements from beyond the arc which helped his pro prospects soar.
Draft Express‘ Mike Schmitz did an entire breakdown on Jackson’s growth as a shooter, specifically in spot-up situations, which I highly recommend you check out.
Also did an in-depth breakdown of Justin Jackson's improvement as a shooter: https://t.co/uoQs6Kauou. Charts, analysis, multiple videos. pic.twitter.com/k3Av36LGfn
— Mike Schmitz (@Mike_Schmitz) May 23, 2017
His analysis is of interest to Heat fans because — this very season — we saw just how vital hitting the long ball is to the team’s scoring success. Just for a refresher, between Oct. 28 and Jan. 15, Miami converted on merely 33.9 percent of their three-point attempts (good for 26th among the league’s 30 teams). Their offensive rating in that time span was a paltry 100.4 (29th).
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Meanwhile, from Jan. 15 through the end of the regular season, when the Heat found some semblance of health and continuity, their three-point shooting improved to 39.0 percent (fourth overall), and with it, their offensive rating skyrocketed to 109.7 (eighth).
Simply put, surrounding rim-attackers like Dion Waiters and Goran Dragic with three-point marksmen makes the Heat’s offense far more effective. (Because, duh.) And though Jackson has a low ceiling at almost 22 years old, a poor handle for a wing and a thin frame, his potential as a shooter coupled with his plus-perimeter defending make him a very enticing option at No. 14 for Miami.
What’s more, on Sunday, Hassan Whiteside was asked what he wanted the team to add heading into the offseason. His answer?
What does @youngwhiteside think the #Heat needs to add? "You can always use shooters -- especially the way Dion and Goran get in the paint."
— Manny Navarro (@Manny_Navarro) June 4, 2017
If the Heat come out of their workout with Jackson convinced that his three-point shooting is translatable, it’ll go a long way towards making a union between the two parties likelier.
Next: 5 second round prospects the Heat should target
However, if they see him up close and end up thinking his one season as an above-average shooter was a fluke, then other young men like OG Anunoby, John Collins or Luke Kennard may make more sense as future Heat lifers.