Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Winslow option picked up
He’s set to earn $3.5 million in 2018-19 season
MIAMI — The Miami Heat finished off the last of their remaining offseason clerical work Tuesday by picking up the 2018-19 team option on the rookie-scale contract of forward Justise Winslow.
The Heat had until their Oct. 18 regular-season opener against the Orlando Magic at the Amway Center to make the decision. Winslow will earn $3.5 million in 2018-19, after earning $2.7 million this coming season.
The move continued the Heat’s aggressive approach with their young components, having announced their four-year, $42 million extension with guard Josh Richardson a day earlier.
Winslow, drafted at No. 10 out of Duke, and Richardson, No. 40 out of Tennessee, were the Heat’s selections in the 2015 draft, having emerged during breakout rookie seasons in 2015-16 to come to be known as Rook 1 and Rook 2 for their draft rounds.
Last summer, the Heat’s commitment to their next wave included a four-year, $98 million free-agent contract for center Hassan Whiteside and a four-year, $50 million free-agent contract for guard Tyler Johnson.
Heat President Pat Riley in July cited Winslow as part of the Heat’s longrange view, along with Richardson, Whiteside and Johnson.
“Give me four guys their age in the league, and let’s play a four-on-four game and I think we’d have a pretty competitive four,” he said.
Winslow went into last season as the Heat’s projected starting small forward of the future, starting the season’s first nine games, with the Heat 2-7 during that stretch. He then missed 16 consecutive games with a sore left wrist, returned for another nine, with the Heat again 2-7 with him in the lineup, and then was lost for the season due to shoulder surgery.
Rookie Rodney McGruder wound up emerging as the Heat’s starting small forward, securing in that position during the team’s 30-11 run over the second half of the season.
Winslow is expected to again compete for a starting role at small forward with Richardson and McGruder.
Winslow also has been featured in a power role during his brief Heat tenure, closing the 2016 playoffs at center in the injury absence of Whiteside.
Winslow has appeared in 96 career games (23 starts) with the Heat, averaging 7.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists in an average of 29.8 minutes, shooting 40 percent from the field.
The 2016 NBA All-Rookie second-team selection appeared in 78 games in 2015-16, becoming just the fifth rookie to lead the Heat in games played in a season. The former NCAA champion at Duke paired with Richardson to become just the fourth set of Heat rookies to connect on at least 25 3-pointers (32) and block at least 25 shots (26) during their rookie seasons.
Additionally, Winslow was the third-youngest player in the league to start on opening night in 2015, at 20 years, 216 days.
Winslow said among his offseason priorities was grooving what had become an uneven outside shot.
“I know the shot, and it’s all about just trying to get that perfect shot more consistent, doing that more and more,” he said. “At this point, it’s just about getting the reps and getting that muscle memory.”
Winslow, though, said he continues to focus on his overall game, including his playmaking, rebounding and creativity at the rim.
“I just want to be more efficient and finish at the basket. And with my body and my size and my athleticism, I think that’s one of my strengths,” he said. “I’ve heard all the shooting stuff, and that’s going to continue to get better. But I just got to do what I do best, which is getting to the hole and making plays for teammates.”
“I just want to be more efficient and finish at the basket . ... I think that’s one of my strengths.” Justise Winslow, Heat forward