Zach Lowe Column on Heat Team

[heatwillbeback]

Zach Lowe is the best NBA columnist and printed a great article on the Heat today. To me, it’s well worth the long read and I came away with a better understanding of the teams present and future.

To nobody’s surprise, Winslow, Whiteside and Waiters are not moving the needle. We play best with Johnson and Olynyk inside.

Surprisingly, he proclaims Josh Richardson as our best all around player and that the Heat view him as a potential two way star.

It’s really a fascinating read.

http://es.pn/2qOGmxE

[Rafly]

Oh and he really really loves BAM.

His Hassan/Winslow for DeAndre doesn’t make sense though. I still feel the need is another Ellington type shooter. Preferably in a starting spot.

[Dr_Heat]

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[heatwillbeback]

I agree Deandre makes no sense and his other recommendation, Cousins, we in no way could get for Winslow and Whiteside. We would be laughed out of the building if we made that offer.

I think we need to start Tyler. Now and when Waiters returns. He is just a better fit all around. If we could add a better shooter, great, but I just don’t see a trade as a real possibility right now. Winslow is at his lowest value and I don’t want to trade our best asset, Bam.

[contract]

Oh and he really really loves BAM.

His Hassan/Winslow for DeAndre doesn’t make sense though. I still feel the need is another Ellington type shooter. Preferably in a starting spot.

What would be the point of trading Whiteside for DJ? That makes no sense.

[SpoSucks]

If the HEAT can acquire DJ for Whiteside they immediately become the best team in the East to challenge Cleveland. Cleveland still probably wins but it would be a real challenge for them. Question is what else would they have to throw in?

[SpoSucks]

.

[Kobewade11]

If the HEAT can acquire DJ for Whiteside they immediately become the best team in the East to challenge Cleveland. Cleveland still probably wins but it would be a real challenge for them. Question is what else would they have to throw in?

classic case of Heat fans overvaluing other teams talent while underestimating their own.

[Rafly]

DJ is likely a little better than Hassan defensively. But he doesn’t move the needle really. If th cap space truly is the problems maybe a 3 team trade.

Hassan/? to Clippers
DJ to Cavs
Nets pick/? To Heat

[J-House]

Only good thing about a Hassan/DJ swap is that Jordan knows what his strengths are which is catching oops and rebounding. Hassan still views himself as a better player than he really is.

[contract]

Only good thing about a Hassan/DJ swap is that Jordan knows what his strengths are which is catching oops and rebounding. Hassan still views himself as a better player than he really is.

But DJ will opt out this summer, which means a huge new deal. We'd be faced with letting him walk for nothing, or paying an older player even more than we're paying Whiteside. No thanks!

And while letting him walk would give Arison a ton of luxury tax relief, I'd like to think that we can trade Whiteside & Winslow for more than just cap relief.

[heat4life]

The executive that calls Winslow the Heat's version of Okafor is an idiot trying to lower JW's value.

JW's main deficiency, while a significant, is his shooting. Other than that, he has good court awareness, good handler/passer, effective with positioning and plays above average on defense 1-5. His work ethic and skills says there is more to develop there, at 21.

Okafor has a questionable approach to basketball and while he is an efficient old school-type of scorer on the post, he is unreliable everywhere else on offense and defense just doesn't click there. Okafor reminds me of Beasley in the sense that there are just some things that don't click with him now and possibly ever.

Two different attitudes as players. Okafor is still young and could have a complete turn around; but right now I like Winslow much better as a long term prospect than Okafor.

[heat4life]

Only good thing about a Hassan/DJ swap is that Jordan knows what his strengths are which is catching oops and rebounding. Hassan still views himself as a better player than he really is.

But DJ will opt out this summer, which means a huge new deal. We'd be faced with letting him walk for nothing, or paying an older player even more than we're paying Whiteside. No thanks!

And while letting him walk would give Arison a ton of luxury tax relief, I'd like to think that we can trade Whiteside & Winslow for more than just cap relief.

I believe he was just suggesting it as a way to clear cap. Stupid though I agree. Hassan and young Winslow are our two best trade assets. Why let them go for what could amount to nothing? If there is a chance at Cousins I would consider it though.

[Kobewade11]

The executive that calls Winslow the Heat's version of Okafor is an idiot trying to lower JW's value.

JW's main deficiency, while a significant, is his shooting. Other than that, he has good court awareness, good handler/passer, effective with positioning and plays above average on defense 1-5. His work ethic and skills says there is more to develop there, at 21.

Okafor has a questionable approach to basketball and while he is an efficient old school-type of scorer on the post, he is unreliable everywhere else on offense and defense just doesn't click there. Okafor reminds me of Beasley in the sense that there are just some things that don't click with him now and possibly ever.

Two different attitudes as players. Okafor is still young and could have a complete turn around; but right now I like Winslow much better as a long term prospect than Okafor.

Lowe didn't really expound upon that in his column, I took it as (attitude/off court antics aside) Okafor was a victim of the numbers game in Philly, too many resources allocated to one position. As your take pertains to Winslow yea I agree. We're playing good now, adding another versatile defender into the rotation who can make smart, spark plays even in limited minutes could be the push this team needs. Why fans would rather bury him than try taking a more optimistic approach is beyond me, but this is a very fickle fanbase.

[heat4life]

The executive that calls Winslow the Heat's version of Okafor is an idiot trying to lower JW's value.

JW's main deficiency, while a significant, is his shooting. Other than that, he has good court awareness, good handler/passer, effective with positioning and plays above average on defense 1-5. His work ethic and skills says there is more to develop there, at 21.

Okafor has a questionable approach to basketball and while he is an efficient old school-type of scorer on the post, he is unreliable everywhere else on offense and defense just doesn't click there. Okafor reminds me of Beasley in the sense that there are just some things that don't click with him now and possibly ever.

Two different attitudes as players. Okafor is still young and could have a complete turn around; but right now I like Winslow much better as a long term prospect than Okafor.

Lowe didn't really expound upon that in his column, I took it as (attitude/off court antics aside) Okafor was a victim of the numbers game in Philly, too many resources allocated to one position. As your take pertains to Winslow yea I agree. We're playing good now, adding another versatile defender into the rotation who can make smart, spark plays even in limited minutes could be the push this team needs. Why fans would rather bury him than try taking a more optimistic approach is beyond me, but this is a very fickle fanbase.

You are right, Lowe didn't get into it - and disagreed too - but that comment prompted this RealGM wiretap http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/248561/Rival-Execs-Call-Justise-Winslow-Miamis-Jahlil-Okafor
Fake news at it's best.

My only concern with Winslow is his bad luck with injuries so far. I hope is just a bad stretch and not what defines his career.

[ZoStrong]

The executive that calls Winslow the Heat's version of Okafor is an idiot trying to lower JW's value.

JW's main deficiency, while a significant, is his shooting. Other than that, he has good court awareness, good handler/passer, effective with positioning and plays above average on defense 1-5. His work ethic and skills says there is more to develop there, at 21.

Okafor has a questionable approach to basketball and while he is an efficient old school-type of scorer on the post, he is unreliable everywhere else on offense and defense just doesn't click there. Okafor reminds me of Beasley in the sense that there are just some things that don't click with him now and possibly ever.

Two different attitudes as players. Okafor is still young and could have a complete turn around; but right now I like Winslow much better as a long term prospect than Okafor.

Justice got all the tools and work ethic to become a decent shooter by his mid 20's.

If his injuries and shooting struggles allow us to lock him up at a bargain deal like we did w JRich it's all good.
Heat will have three young studs (JRich, JW, and Bam) at bargain/rookie deals to build around them.

[heatwillbeback]

With Winslow, it’s about fit. We are best when we run a drive and dish system with Dragic leading, and Winslow’s skills are just not made for it.

I think that’s what the executive was getting at. Not that Winslow is lazy or anything, just that he doesn’t fit what we are currently running.

Last year (big sample size) and this year (small sample size) we turned it up when Winslow went out. You could either consider that a coincidence or not. We will see how we play when Winslow returns soon.

I really hope Winslow finds his role here because he is an easy player to root for and likeable all around. He plays hard, that’s never an issue.

[ZoStrong]

With Winslow, it’s about fit. We are best when we run a drive and dish system with Dragic leading, and Winslow’s skills are just not made for it.

I think that’s what the executive was getting at. Not that Winslow is lazy or anything, just that he doesn’t fit what we are currently running.

Last year (big sample size) and this year (small sample size) we turned it up when Winslow went out. You could either consider that a coincidence or not. We will see how we play when Winslow returns soon.

I really hope Winslow finds his role here because he is an easy player to root for and likeable all around. He plays hard, that’s never an issue.

By "fit" don't you mean "shooting" tho?

If he improves his spotup shooting and opponents begin to respect his outside shot, he will FIT into that drive and dish game.
Heck, he's a good enough ball handler to initiate the drive. I am pretty confident his shooting will be there in coming seasons if he's still w us.

The biggest problem I have Winslow is not shooting but his ability(or lack of) to finish around the rim. If the shooting's not there on a given night, he should attack the rim and get layups, and1s, or two free shots, but it seems he always misses his shots around the rim. Hopefully he improves that part of his game.

[LordRiley]

If the HEAT can acquire DJ for Whiteside they immediately become the best team in the East to challenge Cleveland. Cleveland still probably wins but it would be a real challenge for them. Question is what else would they have to throw in?

classic case of Heat fans overvaluing other teams talent while underestimating their own.

Exactly. DJ makes them NO BETTER than they are now. Heat fans.

[Durrrtysouth]

Maybe the comment about Winslow was actually said from our FO, a way to light a fire under his ass to get him to step it up. Not sure how on schedule his rehab is going but yeah, me as a heat fan is starting to get impatient and I am sure management may be as well.