Cassius Winston could be the most underrated guard in the 2020 NBA Draft class
Since when has it become so awful to stay in college rather than enter the NBA Draft via the one-and-done route? NBA scouts today view older prospects as negative because they lack the potential they may have had at a younger age.
NBA teams and media people tend to look for high-ceiling prospects rather than high-floor prospects. That plays a part in teams avoiding older players because they view them as being already near their ceiling.
Brandon Clarke, in the 2019 NBA Draft, should have shown that philosophy to be wrong. Older players still have potential, and they know the game better thanks to playing more in a legitimate system. Michigan State’s Cassius Winston is of that same mold.
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Winston is a smaller point-guard, standing at only 6-foot-1, and he currently only weighs about 185 lbs, but his game is totally polished. If you look through any scouting report on Winston, the negatives, and weaknesses to his game are not long.
That is something that can’t be said about the other guards in this draft. Most of Winston’s “weaknesses” are elements out of his control, too. The consensus is that he lacks height, he’s an older prospect, and lacks top tier speed but that’s about it.
Besides, today’s NBA is more about what you can bring to the court not what you can’t. Players of all shapes and sizes succeed in this modern era as long as they can bring something to build around.
What does Cassius Winston bring to the NBA?
What Winston brings to the court is an NBA-ready jumper that can hit consistent 3-point shots, above-average play-making ability, a good handle, a low turnover rate, and excellence in the pick-and-roll. Winston should be being talked about more, but he isn’t and that speaks to the problem with the draft.
Cassius Winston is a leader, a ready-made floor-general. He makes up for what he lacks physically with his knowledge and feel for the game. He understands how to run an offense, and he can play both on-and-off the ball. Skills like those alone should make him a worthy draft pick.
At his worst, Winston should be able to join nearly any team and make the rotation because of that high basketball-IQ and his 3-point shooting. At his best, he gets to a great player development program and actually showcases starting potential.
Watching Winston play, you can see a lot of similarities Kyle Lowry. The two players feature similar builds and a very similar playstyle. In a truly great situation for him, Cassius Winston could realistically match the levels that Lowry has reached in the NBA.
In that “right situation” Winston can look to improve his body and physique to be more of a hard-nosed NBA guard, similar to the build of Lowry, or Chris Paul. Then, from there, the focus would be to have Winston improve his defense.
On defense, Winston needs work. While he’ not a “bad” defender needs more consistent coaching and training to be a good one. He has heart, consistently battling on that end of the floor, and while his technique is not the worst he needs to be polished. With the proper work, he can be a serviceable defender.
Where would Winston fit?
Cassius Winston is projected to be a late first-round, early second-round player. Based on projections, a few teams that he’d fit with would include the Miami Heat, Toronto Raptors, and Utah Jazz.
Each of the mentioned spots is excellent at player development, and have a need at the point guard position.
In the case of Miami, Winston would join arguably the best team in the league in player development. Miami takes high-IQ gritty players like Winston and makes them featured players. Winston fits the Miami culture and what they like to do.
In Miami, Winston could be devastating in the pick-and-roll with Bam Adebayo, and he would have excellent shooters to dish to in Tyler Herro, and Duncan Robinson. Off-ball, Winston could receive passes from Jimmy Butler and drain catch-and-shoot 3’s.
Speaking of Kyle Lowry, the Raptors franchise point guard is getting up there in age. Winston would also be in a great position if he joined another revered development program in the Raptors with a chance to become Lowry’s successor.
Bringing in Winston would give the team a lighter blow if they lose Fred VanVleet in free agency as well. Again, Toronto is a team that would offer Winston what he does best, great pick-and-roll opportunities, and the ability to hit easy 3’s.
The Jazz recently acquired Mike Conley but he is a free agent after next season and already in his 30’s. Winston could be the long-term answer after Conley if the Jazz were to select him.
The Jazz being in a small-market predicate themselves on growing their draft picks into contributing players, Winston would receive the same treatment. The most intriguing element of Utah would be having a backcourt of Cassius Winston and Donovan Mitchell because they would be able to share playmaking duties.
The NBA Draft has almost forgotten about seasoned older players, but that might actually end up being to Winston’s benefit. The draft is always about finding the right opportunity and if Cassius Winston finds his, he could end up being one of the biggest steals of the 2020 NBA Draft.