Miami Heat: The elephant in the room is Justise Winslow

Now into their third season together, the Miami Heat will soon need to make a decision regarding the future of Justise Winslow.

While he is still just 21 years of age, the Miami Heat now have a 117-game sample size of forward Justise Winslow. Through 21 games this season, Winslow is averaging 6.6 points and 5.6 rebounds in 22.8 minutes per game. Defensively, Winslow has been sound throughout this season, posting a defensive rating (points allowed per 100 possessions) of 103.6.

Furthermore, on a per-36 minutes basis, Winslow has averaged 1.3 steals, 0.5 blocks, and 2.6 deflections per game.

So while the defensive end of the floor has always been Winslow’s bread and butter, his offensive woes have continued. Thus far this season, Winslow is shooting at a 42.2 percent clip from the field, and 33.3 percent from 3-point range. As a result, Winslow for his career has now hit 48 total 3-pointers at a 27 percent clip.

Put simply, while Winslow’s defensive versatility, ball-handling and playmaking abilities are very commendable, his struggles in shooting the ball remain a huge concern.

On a recent episode of The Dan Le Batard Show, ESPN insider and former Phoenix Suns front office staffer, Amin Elhassan, commented on Winslow’s current status:

"“He’s not a good finisher, and I think that is a damning thing. He could survive in this league as not a shooter….Winslow is actually a poor finisher, numerically.”"

He’s certainly not wrong. With a quarter of the season now in the books, Winslow’s shooting numbers are a not a sight to behold. Here are some of the more noteworthy poor returns:

• In the paint (non-restricted area):  33.3 percent
• Left corner 3:  12.5 percent (1-of-8)
• 5-19 feet overall:  25.0 percent

Additionally, the Heat have been 6.4 points per 100 possessions better off on the offensive end when Winslow has been off the court.

In addition to Elhassan’s comments were those from host Dan Le Batard, a staple in Miami sports over the past two decades:

"“Even though he’s only 21 years old, I’ve watched enough of Justise Winlsow. It’s not just the shooting, even though that was obvious to everyone last year. It’s a lack of touch. It’s a simple lack of touch….Never mind jump shooting, I’m talking about when he’s going to the rim….I’m worried about that not being correctable even though he’s really young.”"

An obvious recent example of this was Winslow’s 2-of-10 shooting performance during a road loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Despite having the ability to penetrate and get into the lane, Winslow’s shortcomings completely validated the views shared by Le Batard.

In addition to Winslow, discussion on The Dan Le Batard Show also centered around the man he replaced in the starting lineup, Luke Babbitt. While far from being a star, Babbiitt started 55 games last season as a certifiable stretch-4, which he backed up by shooting at a 40.1 percent clip from long range. This year, Babbitt has taken things a step further, converting at a 47.2 percent clip from 3-point range as a member of the Atlanta Hawks.

While he lacks the athleticism and overall package that Winslow has to offer, Babbitt’s ability to stretch the floor proved invaluable in opening the driving lanes for the likes of Goran Dragic and Dion Waiters, despite averaging just 15.7 minutes per game for the season.

The following clip highlights the difference in their approach from long distance from virtually the same spot on the floor. Whereas Winslow completely hesitates when given the open look, Babbitt simply steps into the shot and lets it fly.

As the No. 10 overall pick coming out of Duke in 2015, Winslow clearly entered the league with some pedigree. But while he is still very young and with plenty of time ahead of him, finding a role that suits him has been difficult for both himself and the Heat.

Next: 2017-18 Week 7 NBA Power Rankings

Considering the shooting woes of the Heat this season, it’s difficult to see Winslow retaining his place in the starting lineup for much longer. As for the long-term, that’s a decision the Heat are likely going to have to make sooner rather than later.