Heat select Justise Winslow with No. 10 pick in 2015 NBA draft

The Heat selected Duke forward Justise Winslow with the No. 10 pick in the 2015 NBA draft Thursday night at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

The Heat selected Duke forward Justise Winslow with the No. 10 pick in the 2015 NBA draft Thursday night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

Winslow, who is 6'6" and 225 pounds, played one season at Duke. Like teammates Jahlil Okafor and Tyus Jones, the 19-year-old Winslow was critical to Duke’s national championship run.

Winslow—the son of former second-round pick Rickie Winslow—averaged 12.6 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. He also posted nearly one block per game.

Widely expected to be a one-and-done player when he arrived at Duke, Winslow flashed his NBA-ready body as well as his explosiveness in transition. According to Synergy Sports, Winslow averaged 1.156 points per possession on transition plays, the highest of any offensive category.

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Strengths: Winslow’s biggest strength is his prowess in transition. Although he at times appears out of control, he has terrific vision, feel and control. According to Synergy Sports, he averaged 1.156 points per possession on transition plays, the highest of any offensive category. His athleticism is also on display defensively, where he can meet the challenge of defending NBA wings—perhaps the biggest hurdle most young players must overcome to play the 3 position professionally. He was forced to defend power forwards often during his time at Duke and can stand up for himself in the paint; but he’s more of a threat on the perimeter, where his lateral quickness is a big asset. He is also a winner—he was on three state championship teams in high school and won a national title at Duke.

Weaknesses: Although he has the potential to transition to a wing role in the NBA, he primarily played power forward for the Blue Devils last season. To improve offensively, he needs to work on ball-handling in half-court sets and build a consistent jumper. Although he shot 41.8% from three-point range, he managed just 64.1% from the stripe. After playing on an elite college basketball team, many will wonder if Winslow can carry a team by himself or if he is better suited as a valuable role player.  

Justise Winslow - Duke | PointAfter