Orlando Magic Wish List: Justise Winslow
By sfenech
Justise Winslow and the Orlando Magic are a Draft Day match made in heaven. Will the Magic land the ex-Duke Star?
The last time America saw Justise Winslow, he was overcoming foul trouble to help Duke defeat Wisconsin to win the NCAA National Championship. In that game and throughout the entire tournament, Winslow demonstrated elite athleticism and the ability to dominate as a defender both on and off the ball.
Throughout the season, Winslow was often overlooked because he played alongside another couple of freshman phenoms, Jahlil Okafor and Tyus Jones. With that being said, Winslow was arguably the best player in the entire NCAA Tournament and without his efforts, Duke may have exited the tournament before the Final Four.
Against Utah in the Sweet Sixteen, Winslow paced the Blue Devils while Okafor struggled mightily. On the day, Winslow scored 21 points on 13 shots, grabbed 10 rebounds and contributed two blocks and a steal in what turned out to be an extremely close contest.
For the season, Winslow averaged 12.6 points per game on 55.1 percent effective field goal percentage. The Blue Devils posted a 92.8 defensive rating with Winslow on the floor. During the NCAA Tournament, Winslow averaged 14.3 points per game while shooting a 58.2 percent effective field goal percentage.
At 6-foot-6 and sporting tremendous athleticism, Winslow could be counted on to guard the opposing team’s best ball handler from day one. Today’s NBA is dominated by perimeter shooting and spacing the floor. The key to slowing down a successful modern offense is to deny easy drives, which in turn tends to limit open 3-point attempts and free throws.
Winslow is quite literally the perfect fit to do exactly that, and his presence would make the Magic a more dangerous defensive team from day one.
Also, Winslow proved that he has the capability to be a very good rebounder for a small forward. Such a skill will be important on both ends of the floor, as a player with Winslow’s speed has the potential to start a lethal fast break in an instant.
Imagine this for a second, Elfrid Payton, Victor Oladipo and Winslow locking down the perimeter for the Magic for at least the next 5-6 years. The length and athleticism that would be present in that lineup would certainly frustrate opposing backcourts on a nightly basis.
The addition of Winslow would not make the Magic a title contender, but he does have the potential to develop into an elite two-way player. In his first season, Winslow would not be asked to dominate offensively, which would give him an opportunity to transition to the NBA game while utilizing the elite skills he does posess.
While Nikola Vucevic is a dynamic offensive weapon, he will never be confused for an elite rim protector. The long-term plan is to acquire a shot blocker to play beside Vucevic at power forward, but that option may not present itself in the draft.
With Vucevic on the roster, the Magic do not have a glaring need at center. Because of this, Orlando may be better off choosing to avoid drafting Okafor or Kentucky’s Karl-Anthony Towns if either is on the board when the Magic are on the clock. Odds are, both will be gone and the Magic will be selecting from a list of wings and guards at their pick in the 5-8 range of the draft.
That is not to say that Orlando would not draft Towns if they won the lottery, but the roster certainly has a bigger hole at small forward than at center. General manager Rob Hennigan should do whatever he can to acquire the best assets possible, but a strong argument could be crafted that Winslow is Orlando’s best-case scenario.
The addition of Winslow would further develop the perimeter defense, which could in turn make things easier on Orlando’s shaky frontcourt. With Winslow on the roster, the head coaching vacancy would become even more appealing.
It is not hard to imagine Tom Thibodeau hitting the open market and showing interest in the Magic. The roster is already loaded with players who work hard and have the requisite length and athleticism to foreshadow a potentially elite defense.
Jimmy Butler is a solid NBA comparison for Winslow, as both are long, athletic wings that were capable of playing good defense upon entering the league. With that being said, it took Butler a couple of seasons to become comfortable playing basketball at the highest level.
Entering the NBA, Winslow appears to be more ready to contribute in his rookie season than Butler was when the Chicago Bulls drafted him out of Marquette. Winslow’s offensive game is still a work in progress, but he is a capable ball handler and should only continue to develop as a jump shooter.
There is still a lot to be determined before Winslow can trade one blue jersey for another. But the buzz surrounding this year’s draft should lead Magic fans to be optimistic about his prospects.