On Tuesday, the Miami Heat exercised their fourth-year team option that would enable them to have second-year forward Justice Winslow until the 2018-2019 NBA season.
Justice Winslow started only 15 of the 18 games that he played in last season. He missed most of the season due to a couple of injuries, including a shoulder injury that required surgery.
Winslow will earn $2.7 million this season and is guaranteed $3.44 million for the upcoming 2018-2019 NBA season.
Justice Winslow's NBA journey
Justice Winslow was picked tenth overall by the Miami Heat in the 2015 NBA draft.
Winslow averaged 6.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.3 blocks per game in his rookie season. He was also a member of the 2016 All-Rookie second-team selection.
Winslow averaged 10.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.4 steals, and 0.3 blocks per game in the past NBA season while averaging 7.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.3 blocks per game throughout his young career.
He is an excellent two-way player that can guard multiple positions in the wing. Winslow staying with the Heat gives Miami multiple versatile players that would make Miami Heat's head coach Erik Spoelstra rotate his players much easier.
Miami Heat and Justice Winslow's 2016-2017 NBA season
The Miami Heat started the past NBA season with a couple of losing streaks. They finished the first half of the season with a record of 11-30 but managed to turn things around in the second half of the season. The Heat finished the 2016-2017 Nba Season with a 41-41 record and ranked ninth in the Eastern Conference and barely missed the playoffs.
Justice Winslow started the first nine games of the season as the starting small forward. But a sore left wrist caused him to miss 16 consecutive games. He returned and played a few games before ending his season with a shoulder injury.
Rookie forward Rodney McGruder took over his job as the starting small forward. The Heat then won 30 out of the 41 games they played in the second half of the season.
According to Miami Heat's president Pat Riley, Justice Winslow along with Tyler Johnson, Josh Richardson, and Hassan Whiteside is part of the Heat's plan as they move forward. With Josh Richardson's recent contract extension, Riley's words are proving to be true at the moment.
Justice Winslow is projected to be the starting forward for the upcoming NBA season, but he will still need to compete with Josh Richardson and Rodney McGruder to secure his spot.
