Sixers draft target: SF Justise Winslow

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Justise Winslow
Position: SF
Height/Weight: 6-6/222
School: Duke

The most heralded player at Duke this season was Jahlil Okafor. He should be a top-two pick (unless Karl-Anthony Towns goes first and then the Lakers do something unexpected). But the more you watched Duke this year, especially as the regular season funneled into the NCAA Tournament, the more you couldn’t help focusing on Justise Winslow. He commanded attention.

Winslow had a weird year. He was OK during non-conference competition. He was dinged up during ACC play, so it was hard to know how much of his performance was altered as a result. And then he was just fantastic at the end of the year. He was easily one of Duke’s best and most consistent players during the tournament. He helped himself quite a bit during the Blue Devils’ national championship run.

Strengths
When I talked to people about Winslow at the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago last month, they almost all brought up the same two things: his athleticism and body. The guy is strong and fast and muscular. In terms of his frame (though not his height, which we’ll get to) and his energy, he’s NBA ready.

Winslow is a good rebounder for a wing. He’s also a good defender, a guy you can envision guarding multiple positions. He should give shooting guards and other wings fits. He’s quick enough that, if needed, you could imagine putting him on a point guard now and then depending the situation. And he’s strong enough that, if necessary, he might be able to help out on smaller power forwards. That has a lot to do with his strength and athleticism.

Winslow also showed an ability to shoot from deep. He made 41.4 percent (on 2.8 attempts) from three. He also reportedly did quite well in his combine interviews.

But, seriously, the guy is a physical freak. He does things like this. And this. And this.

Weaknesses
Winslow was 6-4½ at the combine without shoes. That’s not great for a small forward. It also wasn’t all that surprising to at least one league executive, who said you’re taking Winslow for his athleticism/strength and not his height. The league exec actually said, “You’re taking him because of this (he made a muscle) instead of this (he put his hand up over his head).” Visual cues are always helpful.

Again, the athleticism and strength can compensate for a lot. The concerning part to Winslow’s game is his free-throw shooting. Good news, Winslow got to the line a fair amount (4.0 attempts per game). Bad news, he hit just 64.1 percent. That’s the kind of number that could go either way given his age. He’s only 19. He won’t turn 20 until next March. If he works at it and inflates it over 70 percent, he’s suddenly a much more attractive player.

How he’d fit with the Sixers
The Sixers could use a wing — especially one who can shoot from distance and help out against multiple positions at the other end of the floor. Three-and-D. Winslow should have a nice career in that capacity. Not sure his rough edges are smooth enough to take with the third pick, though. Feels a bit too high — but just a bit.

NBA comparison
This one is tough. He’s been compared to the Defensive Player of the Year, which isn’t fair. He’s also been compared to an MVP candidate, which is really not fair. Maybe Jimmy Butler? But he’s about to be a max player. That’s not fair either. Just let Winslow be Winslow. That should be pretty good.

Draft Projection
High lottery. Somewhere in the three-to-eight range.

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