Brad Penner- USA Today Sports
The Miami Heat were looking for three main tangibles out of the potential player the organization was going to select in the 2015 NBA Draft. The first asset was three-point shooting, the second was versatility on the defensive end, and third was versatility in the lineup, whether as a starter or off the bench. The Heat managed, by some stroke of sheer luck, to check off all three tangibles by selecting Duke forward Justise Winslow.
Winslow was projected in some mock drafts as a top-five player, and yet he slid all the way down to the Heat at No. 10. Because of this stroke of luck, the Heat now have the exact type of wing player they have been coveting for quite some time. With the current contract uncertainty of both Dwyane Wade and Luol Deng, this selection couldn’t have come at a better time.
The Heat now have a wing player who will instantly become an elite NBA defender early on. This was one of the Heat’s biggest weaknesses last season, and Winslow’s presence on the floor could immediately fill that void. Winslow is also an extremely dangerous transition player, with the ability to grab a rebound and carry it all the way down the court for an easy score. His efficiency in transition should not be understated.
The ideal solution would be for both Wade and Deng to return next season and mentor Winslow into the franchise cornerstone player he could be for the Heat franchise. If one or both of the aforementioned players opts out and chooses to play for another team, Winslow could be thrust right into the starting lineup. In either scenario, Winslow is going to shine for the Heat organization. He has all of the tangibles the Heat have been looking for since Day 1.
Jared Doyle is a Miami Heat writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @outofboundsjay, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google
