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NBA Draft 2019: 5 targets for the Miami Heat

By Trevor Magnotti

BLOOMINGTON, IN - NOVEMBER 09: Romeo Langford #0 of the Indiana Hoosiers looks on during the game against the Montana State Bobcats at Assembly Hall on November 9, 2018 in Bloomington, Indiana. The Hoosiers won 80-35. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, IN - NOVEMBER 09: Romeo Langford #0 of the Indiana Hoosiers looks on during the game against the Montana State Bobcats at Assembly Hall on November 9, 2018 in Bloomington, Indiana. The Hoosiers won 80-35. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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KANSAS CITY, MO – MARCH 31: PJ Washington #25 of the Kentucky Wildcats dunks the ball to score over the Auburn Tigers in the Elite Eight round of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament held at Sprint Center on March 31, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ben Solomon/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MO – MARCH 31: PJ Washington #25 of the Kentucky Wildcats dunks the ball to score over the Auburn Tigers in the Elite Eight round of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament held at Sprint Center on March 31, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ben Solomon/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) /

1. P.J. Washington, PF, Kentucky

The Step Back Big Board Ranking: 13

Washington might seem like a 4 on the surface, but he has the talent to be an NBA 3. He’s 6-foot-8 with a good handle, solid shooting touch, and the ability to move the ball within an offense. Defensively, he has a good frame and is quick enough to defend NBA 3s, even though his footwork will take significant work to make a dent at the next level.

The sell for Washington as a big wing in Miami is an easy one. He can punish switches in the post, an added dynamic for a team that loves to capitalize on mismatches with their multiple ball handlers. He also is a pretty solid screen setter, and his ability to kick the ball out of the post and move the ball on the perimeter will help create those advantages. He can flip between small-ball four that allows Miami to play small and not give up an interior advantage thanks to Washington’s rebounding, and his fit as an offensive foil to James Johnson could be a good one allowing for an offensive boost when Miami goes big.

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Washington has an avenue to being an NBA 3, and the Heat are a team that can work with him on his ball-handling and footwork to allow him to realize that potential. He has the skills of a 3 and the body of a 4 which should help him be a versatile player, and Miami should be able to help him learn to leverage his wing skills into a functional weapon n multiple roles.

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