Heat select Justise Winslow with 10th pick
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Justise will be served in South Beach next season.
The Miami Heat selected Duke small forward Justise Winslow with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft on Thursday night.
Sliding in the draft isn't always the worst thing in the world.
The Heat realize they had too many Urkels on their team - that's why they Winslow'd. Awesome and overused Kanye West-"Family Matters" puns aside, Winslow is a really nice get for Miami, and they're sure to be pleasantly surprised by his unexpected fall. Falling a few spots is money out of Winslow's pocket, but this may wind up being a best-case scenario.
Coach Erik Spoelstra could use some assistance at the 2 and 3 spots, especially if All-Star Dwyane Wade follows through on his trolling spree and ditches the franchise to join LeBron James with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Luol Deng, who started all 72 regular-season games he played, has a player option he has yet to exercise, meaning Winslow could realistically be the starting small forward should the 11-year veteran seek refuge elsewhere.
Ten-time NBA All-Star Chris Bosh will definitely be on the roster next year, and he's happy as a clam to have the young Winslow on board.
Congrats to @IAmJustise on getting drafted! Very excited to have you! #wegotagoodone #NBADraft #luckylefty
— Chris Bosh (@chrisbosh) June 26, 2015
One of the best wing defenders in the class, Winslow showed appreciable growth as his freshman season wore on, adding elements to his offensive game and rising to the challenge of locking down opposing scorers. He measured a little smaller than a team may hope for from an elite stopper, but his 6-foot-10.25 wingspan should make small forward a comfortable home.
A high-energy, high-effort player, Winslow should ingratiate himself to Heat fans quickly with his defense, hustle, and open-court game. If he can consistently knock down threes - he shot 41.8 percent last season, but was a poor free-throw shooter - he has terrific upside. Failing that, it may be tough for him to get looks since his off-dribble game is still developing, but his defense limits his downside significantly.