He is nearing the prime of his life and is one of the best athletes in the world, a sinewy mass that contradicts his 20 years of age. But on this particular Thursday, he’s struggling to play the game he’s mastered for over half his life, signals crossing as his body and mind awkwardly work at odds with another. He takes each shot attempt just slightly out of rhythm and hangs his head just a bit lower after each one, the burden of unexpected emotion hanging across his massive shoulders like a yoke.

He is Justise Winslow, a player potentially on the cusp of greatness, and things were supposed to be different.

To say “different” isn’t the same as saying that things have gone badly, although you could certainly make that case based on his woeful 3-of-17 performance during Summer League play in Orlando. Rather, it’s just that Winslow’s life has taken an unexpected turn after he helped lead the Duke Blue Devils to a national title in 2015. The drama that unfolded later that year is already part of draft day lore: the Celtics offered a king’s ransom for the chance to add Winslow, teams passed on Boston’s offer and Winslow unexpectedly slid to the 10th overall selection and the awaiting arms of the Miami Heat.

And, while he hadn’t seen it coming, many believed the slide would prove fortuitous for Winslow. Unlike most lottery-bound teams, Miami already had an established veteran core that wasn’t counting on an immediate impact from their raw-but-promising rookie. They could afford to groom him slowly as he gained experience. The move seemed to pay off as Winslow proved to be a crucial reserve last season, providing stifling defense that belied his youth and inexperience. The future was bright for both Winslow and the Heat.

But this summer has seen an abrupt rewriting of the script in mid-act, with free agency wielding the most haphazard pen. After 13 years, Dwyane Wade has finally walked off Miami’s stage, as have Luol Deng and Joe Johnson, both of whom filled crucial roles during shorter stints with the Heat. The cast left behind is a question mark, equal parts unfulfilled promise and pending disaster, and Winslow is poised to take on a bigger part that no one is sure he can actually play.

Prior to the start of free agency, Winslow had appeared optimistic when asked about how the roster might go through significant change in the coming weeks. His answer, delivered with a carefree smile, seems almost tragic in retrospect. “As long as D-Wade comes back, there’s always hope.”

It was a far more dejected Winslow who spoke after his poor shooting display, less than 24 hours following Wade’s announcement that he was joining the Chicago Bulls. “Crazy things going through my mind,” Winslow muttered to reporters in Orlando.

Free agency is generally an exciting time for NBA fans, watching as players exercise their right to join whichever team they choose. Winslow’s reaction shows a different, often ignored, side of the equation. “I still don’t think I’m over it,” he explained, “It’s just the fact that it’s not too often you get a chance to have one of the greatest of all-time on your team and I’m sure the guys in L.A. feel the same about Kobe and different guys changing teams, guys in Oklahoma City…it’s not too often you play with one of the greats. I think that’s the part that kind of shook me the most, losing that mentor, that friend.”