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ASK IRA: Does Wade deserve more of a benefit of the doubt?
September 23, 2014
Q: Dwayne Wade is my favorite player by far in the NBA, so I might be biased. But even with Chris Bosh getting his new contract, I am still convinced Dwayne is the best player the Heat have. I'm not ready to write him off. At worst, he is the second-best shooting guard in the NBA. But I still consider him the best, considering Kobe Bryant hasn't played in two seasons and then there's James Harden's thoughtlessness on defense. Seeing him break down in the Finals last season was depressing; but he is D-Wade. His basketball IQ hasn't disappeared, even if his athleticism is in a decline. I'm wondering: Do you think this upcoming season he will at least come back a 23-5-5 guy? -- Hanif, Pembroke Pines.
A: I do believe there has been a rush to cast Dwyane as some sort of has-been, an over-the-hill player. Yes, he did not look like himself during the NBA Finals against the Spurs. Then again, what Heat player did? And before that, there was a solid series against the Pacers and steady regular-season numbers. The issue is not the numbers Wade might go for, but rather whether can he produce them consistently, within the Heat's new system, while being available far more often than last season. If Wade again misses a third of the regular season, he also forfeits his place among the game's elite as his position. In order to be a top-tier contributor, you have to be available to contribute.
Q: So it's basically Emeka Okafor after he gets healthy or nothing? -- Blake.
A: It's difficult, without confirmation from the Heat front office, to assess how these latter stages of free agency played out. But it could be as simple as not being able to offer the money the Kings offered Ramon Sessions, being like every other NBA team in bypassing Andray Blatche, and not being able to offer the clear path to playing time that the Lakers could offer Wayne Ellington. Or it could be a belief in having enough in Danny Granger, Udonis Haslem, Norris Cole, Shabazz Napier, Shannon Brown, Shawne Williams, Reggie Williams, James Ennis and Justin Hamilton in reserve.
Q: Is this too simple: If each of the returning veterans from last season's Heat team increases his productivity on both sides of the court by five percent with last season as baseline, the negative impact of losing LeBron James significantly diminishes and Heat acquit themselves well? Is that too much to ask? -- Gary, Miami.
A: No, but it is a bit simplistic, because there also is limited upside with many of the incumbent players on the roster. I don't think overcoming the loss of LeBron is as much about incumbent players stepping up as it is about proving prudent with the choices of Luol Deng, Josh McRoberts and Danny Granger as replacements. If those three players contribute at a level close to their maximum, then the Heat will find themselves with a highly competitive roster.
September 22, 2014
Q: Udonis Haslem appears to be the type of player who keeps himself in top shape. And he's not ancient, just now approaching the age where skills start to diminish. He may no longer be at a stage where he can be a starter, counted on to play 25 to 30 minutes full force. But I would think he's more than capable of playing 15-plus good minutes. And I believe with LeBron James gone that he'll be less hesitant to shoot. And we know he can still rebound, and play defense, though his days of effectively guarding the opposing team's center, for long stretches, may be nearing the end. -- Matt.
A: The playing style and roster in recent years did not exactly set up well for Haslem, especially with LeBron able to provide many of the intangibles previously provided by Udonis. Also, Haslem has lacked lift since his foot injury, a Lisfranc fracture, in Memphis four years ago. It will be curious to see how much, or how little, Haslem plays, considering Chris Bosh, Josh McRoberts and Chris Andersen all set up ahead of him in the power rotation. In the end, it likely will come down to Haslem's ability to defend opposing centers, in the way he stepped up against Roy Hibbert. With Andersen getting on in years, Haslem and Birdman could essentially function as co-backup centers, especially if Haslem also can provide a return of a reliable jumper to draw opposing big men from the paint.
Q: I am concerned the Heat are going to make Bosh do too much. And with the Heat offensively challenged, without a lot of players on the current roster who can create their own shot, the Heat will play it close to the vest. -- Stuart.
A: To be honest, with Bosh's new contract, the expectations should be commensurate with the salary. Now it's time for Chris to prove his worth, including being more of an inside force. For the past four seasons, Bosh has noted, correctly, that he merely has been doing what has been asked. And to his credit, he did develop a reliable 3-point shot. Where the Heat will replace LeBron's offense has to start with Bosh. It is far more likely to get a significant uptick in his scoring that asking for a commensurate increase from Dwyane Wade.
Q: I say take a chance on Andrew Bynum. As much as the Heat need more of an impact player, Emeka Okafor looks like a longshot and Andray Blatche has signed in China. We have been in rehabilitation process before, why stop now? He would have the most upside amongst the rest of the available big men. -- Lester, Tampa.
A: That essentially is what the Heat tried last season with Greg Oden, and that didn't exactly work out well. No, if the Heat are going to add a center, it has to be one ready, and willing, to defend opposing centers, with enough agility to fit into the Heat's system. They don't need Greg Oden II.
September 21, 2014
Q: Was Miami's offer for Andray Blatche that bad that he instead signed in China? -- Mike.
A: The fact that both Jordan Crawford and Andray Blatche opted for China says plenty about the level of interest from the NBA. Granted, the money in China can be better than the NBA minimum, but a guaranteed minimum deal possibly would have lured one or both. Then there's Ramon Sessions, who got two years guaranteed from the Kings, above the minimum. To a degree, all three reached the point of being "names," instead of being viewed as rotation players. That surprises me with Blatche, who appeared to have his moments in Brooklyn. Keep in mind that those who sign in China can return to the NBA in March, so this chapter might not yet be fully closed. But with their commitment to 19 for training camp, it likely will take a rotation player for the Heat to offer guaranteed money.
Q: So Heat fans lose LeBron James, Pat Riley signs Luol Deng, Josh McRoberts and a few D-League players. As a fan I was hoping for somewhat of a consolation prize, something for us Heat fans to be excited about. -- Bruno, Fort Lauderdale.
A: Whoa. That Riley was able go to back to Deng at such a late stage of free agency and close that deal is plenty to be excited about. No, he's not LeBron, but he makes you better on both sides of the floor. He cares about being a team player, defending, doing the little things. And I think the Danny Ferry episode will make him even more driven this season. If it was just Josh McRoberts and Danny Granger, I could appreciate if there was overwhelming post-LeBron disappointment. But among all of this summer's free agents, outside of Carmelo Anthony, I don't think the Heat could have gotten a better replacement player for LeBron than Deng.
Q: It's good to see Chris Quinn getting a shot at coaching. He was a good spot-up shooter. Other than that, well those were some rough years. Just seeing a guy with a limited skill set, with so much drive and love for the game being able to stay involved with the most-talented players in the world is inspirational. -- Tony, Reno.
A: It is another case of Heat loyalty. What I like most about the hiring is that it comes attached to a D-League element, that Chris also will assist with player development there. In the wake of the loss of James, the reality is the Heat have to get back to player development.
September 20, 2014
Q: I've heard you comment a number of times that the Heat don't have any wing players except Dwyane Wade who can take their man off the dribble. That may be true, but who outside of Wade and LeBron James could last year? And as poor, or questionable, as the Heat bench appears to be, especially at the perimeter positions, who did we have last year, excluding Ray Allen? Where are we really weaker? We lost marginal players, such as Rashard Lewis (and replaced him with Danny Granger, which is a worthy swap, even if Granger is diminished). Michael Beasley? He rarely played. James Jones? He rarely played. Shane Battier? He was shot. So as much as this bench has question marks all over it, it's not like we were loaded last year. -- Matt.
A: You sort of answered your own question. Not replacing Allen is an issue, especially with LeBron already lost for nothing in return. The question isn't whether Granger can offer more than Lewis, it's whether Granger or any of the reserves can offer as much as Allen offered the previous two seasons. The falloff of the bench has a lot to do with the loss of Allen. And, of course, ground also has to be gained across the board because of the loss of LeBron. For now, there are plenty of unknowns, although there also is hope with James Ennis and Shabazz Napier.
Q: Let's see, there are three spots open and Andray Blatche, Wayne Ellington and Ramon Sessions still are available. What are they waiting on? -- Joe.
A: First, there are two parts of the equation, including what the remaining free agents want and where they want to be. Guaranteed money (and the amount of that money) and playing time factor into the decisions. It is probably safe to say that a non-guaranteed, make-good offer is not going to cut it with most tenured veterans. Beyond that, it comes down to what Pat Riley and his staff already think about what is in place. As has been chronicled in this space, an argument could be made that the Heat are settled with their first eight, when factoring in Chris Bosh, Josh McRoberts, Luol Deng, Mario Chalmers, Dwyane Wade, Chris Andersen, Danny Granger and Norris Cole, and that group already includes three newcomers. So it could come down to the degree of change that is deemed prudent. All of that said, yes, I would take all three, and worry about development consequences later.
Q: Is LeBron's new hairline a free agent? -- Ben.
A: This is among the (very few) reasons why LeBron won't be missed. Now I can get back to worrying about my own hair plugs.
September 19, 2014
Q: Ira, I've been a fan of Dwyane Wade's since his college years. I've watched every single game that he's played in since joining the Heat organization, so I've witnessed the passion and drive he has for the game. Having said that, I refuse to believe that a player with Wade's drive and passion can have such a drastic drop-off in his game since the 2012 season, when he gave the reins to LeBron James. I'm thinking it had a lot to do with taking a back seat to LeBron, which led to the decrease in work ethic in the offseason. Your thoughts. -- Bismark, Miami.
A: Based on the way the Heat have restructured in the wake of James' departure, it is apparent the Heat's hope is the same as your hope, that a more dominant role will rekindle a more dominant game. But the reality is that explosive players are never quite as explosive as they age. For Wade to return to close to his previous level, I do agree that it will take maximum effort far more often than was on display last season, especially what was offered in the Finals.
Q: Ira, why every time someone writes in saying the Heat will be fine without LeBron James do you say, "Um, no, not when that player is LeBron James." Well LeBron is not God. If you remember correctly, Chris Bosh was involved in some of the biggest plays of the playoffs last year and the year before, both on offense and defense. Common, LeBron didn't help us win a championship last year. -- Gary, Delray Beach.
A: What I've been saying is that it is difficult to achieve similar results once you roster is stripped of the best player in the game. Believe me, plenty have written in with similar sentiments, and then there is this, below . . .
Q: Ira, I'm really disappointed in the shots Heat fans are taking at LeBron now that he's no longer here to carry the Heat. Wow, what short memories. Does no one remember watching D-Wade in the Finals, who couldn't have gotten past you? Or the Chris Bosh who followed up going scoreless in Game 7 of the 2013 Finals with almost as bad a performance for the whole of the five games of the 2014 Finals. LeBron carried that team on his back, and I for one will always remember the incredible four years I spent watching him play here. -- Eugene, Lake Worth.
A: So this, along with the question above, essentially make 2014-15 a season of Wade and Bosh showing how much they needed or relied on LeBron these past four seasons. Both Dwyane and Chris are in position to make considerable statements of their own this season.
September 18, 2014
Q: Watch, Michael Beasley will become a superstar under Gregg Popovich. -- D.T.
A: You have to credit the Spurs with their thoroughness, and it's difficult to believe that there isn't an NBA team than couldn't use Beasley's streak scoring. I'd include the Heat on that list, but they clearly have moved on, and at least offered the opportunity to return last season. But you're right, from Boris Diaw to Stephen Jackson, those who couldn't make it work elsewhere found a way to make it work in San Antonio. Then again, perhaps that's what the Heat are thinking with their reclamation projects such as Shawne Williams, Reggie Williams and Shannon Brown, that they can do with those three what the Spurs have done with so many supposedly finished (not in a good way) products. What Popovich won't tolerate are distractions, something Beasley has to avoid being if he has hopes of resurfacing anywhere.
Q: Chris Quinn is back. Take that Shaq! -- Vlad.
A: Of course, after Shaq came out with the comments in 2008, about never having gone to Miami to play with the likes of Chris, he amended them to clarify that he meant that Quinn simply didn't draw enough defensive attention. Whatever. It is curious how the Heat never had a spot for Tim Hardaway on their coaching staff, but then opened one for Quinn. Hardaway said the lack of perceived opportunity is among the reasons he took a job on Stan Van Gundy's staff in Detroit for the coming season, leaving his Heat scouting position open for Bob McAdoo to fill. Quinn was always well liked as a Heat teammate, including by Heat holdovers Dwyane Wade and Udonis Haslem.
Q: Chris Bosh has said he wants to take the lead on this next Heat team and Birdman wants to move on without LeBron James, not to mention Mario Chalmers who claims Heat nation is still here. I think we're out to prove a point, that the Heat mentality of leadership and perseverance is bigger than any single player. -- Matt, Antigua.
A: Um, no, it's not, not when LeBron James was that player. But it will take that type of drive to push forward in James' absence. If players felt snubbed and want to use it as fuel, all the better.
September 17, 2014
Q: Injuries and other unforeseen factors can have an impact on the roster during the entire season. Chris Andersen and Udonis Haslem may not be able to put in the minutes they did before, as they age. Danny Granger and Dwyane Wade have a history of injury issues. Shabazz Napier, James Ennis, Shawne Williams, Shannon Brown are unknown fits within the Heat system and how Erik Spoelstra views them. -- Oscar, Miami.
A: Points all reasonably made. And I wholeheartedly agree that the Heat's bench presents serious concerns. As with the Dolphins, there simply are too many significant positions with too much questionable depth Again, there still is time before the start of the season (and something that still can be handled early in the season) to address those concerns. But the wing depth hardly is overwhelming, and Birdman stands as the only proven rim deterrence. Of course, it also is possible that options emerge in camp, such as James Ennis, which might be why the Heat don't want to overload the roster with veterans on guarantees. I get that. But there also is enough capable depth still available to ease some of those concerns, be it Andray Blatche, Ramon Sessions, Jordan Crawford or Wayne Ellington. When the Heat searched for answers last offseason, they did not sign Michael Beasley until Sept. 11, and in previous years went even later to sign contributors, including Gary Payton, a move they made on Sept. 22, 2005. So there still is time.
Q: Justin Hamilton seems to be forgotten, yet he is the quintessential stretch five. He shot 33 percent from 3-point land and 74 percent around the basket. Hamilton is far from perfect, but every player has their flaws that the team has to deal with. Of the returning players, he is one of the best shooters. -- Evan, Miami.
A: And therefore intriguing, which could be among the reasons the Heat might already see enough in a power rotation that is headed by Chris Bosh, Josh McRoberts, Chris Andersen and Udonis Haslem. In recent years, the Heat simply have not gone very deep in their power rotation. The question becomes whether small ball still will work in the void of LeBron James holding things to together. Hamilton deserves an extended camp look, but has to rebound and show something on defense, as well.
Q: Ira, if you had to predict today the Heat's position in the East's standings where do you see them? -- Joel.
A: I see them fighting with Toronto and maybe Charlotte for the No. 4 seed in the East, behind Cleveland, Chicago and Washington. My greatest unknown is Brooklyn, with that a matter of where Deron Williams and Brook Lopez stand in their comebacks.
September 16, 2014
Q: The good thing about training camp this year, unlike other years, is the competition for spots nine through 15. Let's hope we find an Ike Austin, Anthony Mason or John Starks in this group. And money will not be the deciding factor. -- Ray, Miami.
A: While Pat Riley has had his success in both New York and Miami when it comes to finding diamonds in the rough, I don't think there are nearly as many spots up for grabs in camp as you suggest. And money does matter, because it always does, even if just for having tangible trade chips. Definites for the roster are the projected starting lineup of Chris Bosh, Josh McRoberts, Luol Deng, Mario Chalmers and Dwyane Wade. Also seemingly locked in are Chris Andersen, Norris Cole, Danny Granger, Udonis Haslem and Shabazz Napier. And you'd have to figure that the Heat would want to go with James Ennis longer that just training camp (even if it means sending him out for seasoning to the D-League). So that's 11 roster spots accounted for (when farming out players to the Sioux Falls Skyforce, those spots count against the NBA roster). From there, I agree that it could be wide open (but also believe that at least one more proven veteran will be added, a player likely to account for a roster spot, as well). Handicapping from there, Justin Hamilton might have an edge because of his time with the team and height. The Heat clearly saw something in NBA veterans Shawne Williams and Reggie Williams, as well, signing both before the likes of Shannon Brown. And remember, teams do not have to open the season with the maximum of 15 players (although because of the Heat's position outside of the luxury tax, there is absolutely no reason for them not to make such expenditures).
Q: Does Pat Riley not know that Jordan Crawford, Wayne Ellington and Andray Blatche are still out there? -- Bruno, Fort Lauderdale.
A: Not only does/did he know that, but he apparently always knew they still would be available this late in the offseason, making it more of a buyers' market for teams to dictate such additions on their own terms. As stated above, I still see the Heat adding the type of veteran who essentially would become a lock to make their roster.
Q: Is there any chance for Kevin Garnett to go to Miami for the veteran minimum? -- Charles.
A: No. If Kevin Garnett plays this season, it would have to be for the Nets, unless they trade him or agree to waive him to get him to more of a contender. The Heat have neither the cap space nor the championship odds to entice a move toward K.G.
September 15, 2014
Q: Please Ira, please explain to me why Mario Chalmers continues to start for this team? What am I not seeing? He would be a backup on most teams and we need someone that can create, penetrate and finish more than ever at the point-guard spot. -- Patrick, Miami.
A: And yet, if you're going to have criticism of Chalmers, I think it should come on the other end. Mario is fine on the offensive end, and should have the opportunity to open up his offensive game with LeBron James gone. I have no issue with Chalmers on that end. It's on the other end, where containment is a major issue, that concerns are legitimate. Starting Chalmers is not a concern; it's who the Heat can play at point guard defensively at the ends of close games. Two seasons ago, that was Norris Cole in the playoffs. Finding someone to stop opposing point guards is the greatest concern at the position. And that's not a challenge, at his age, that should be added to Dwyane Wade's responsibilities.
Q: Do we need another Joel Anthony type? -- Faye.
A: Yes. This team has precious little rim deterrence beyond Chris Andersen, and Birdman is moving closer to a limited-minutes stage of his career. With concerns such as the above with Chalmers at point guard, it is essential the Heat be able to offer a second line of defense that's something more than Chris Bosh or Udonis Haslem stepping in to take charges. Whether Khem Birch is NBA ready is another story. Based on the way the Finals played out, I'm not sure that the Heat didn't actually miss Anthony as a defensive deterrent.
Q: If the TV deal does increase the cap and max as significantly as some expect, paying Bosh $23 million per year may be a relative bargain come 2016, if the max hits that $30 million-$35 million per-year range. -- Andrew, Miami.
A: A legitimate point, but only if Chris can return to the all-around presence he was in Toronto. Whether the max is $30 million or $20 million, you can't be spending that type of money on a player whose contribution have been as limited as Bosh's in recent seasons.
September 14, 2014
Q: Is there anyone on the roster now other than Dwyane Wade who can break down a defense and penetrate to the basket? Last season too often it was LeBron James-or-bust with Wade out of the lineup. Their roster remains built for small ball, but without the workhorse to make it work. -- Jason, Los Angeles.
A: I agree with your analysis. Yes, I appreciate in the wake of the NBA Finals against San Antonio how everyone is pointing to the Spurs' success in playing a five-man game. But I also know for years that just about every coach has preached such an approach (just as every coach says at the start of camp that their team will run). The reality is that invariably you wind up needing isolation scores, when the defense pushes you late in the clock and you have to have one player getting it done on his own. During the Finals, Wade could not beat his man off the dribble, which put that much more pressure on an all-or-nothing LeBron approach. Now Wade has to produce in such a role, with the apparent hope that Danny Granger can provide some of that off the bench, as well. Lament all you want the tendency of NBA teams to lapse into one-on-one play, but sometimes the defenses are so good at blowing up set plays that one-on-one becomes the only option as the clock winds down.
Q: So now there are reports saying the racial slur on Luol Deng came from a scouting report from the Cavs. So LeBron left a first-class organization for a clown show? -- Julio.
A: Actually yes, which is why the Cavaliers will have the entire roster enter out of a Volkswagen Beetle at midcourt this coming season during pregame introductions. The reality is the Cavaliers positively bumbled their way through the past four seasons, doing just about everything wrong, from botched drafts to the NBA's worst combined record over that span, even as they were trying to make the playoffs. Another reality is that LeBron is bigger than the game, and changes everything with his presence, no matter what transpired while he was away. Incompetence + LeBron = championship contention. It just does.
Q: Bring back Beasley. -- Patricia,
A: At this point, your request might be more about the NBA as a whole than the Heat. The irony is last season hardly was a failure for Michael with the Heat.
September 13, 2014
Q: How will the Luol Deng situation affect the locker room? Will it make Heat rally together to form a more cohesive unit? He has proved to be a true positive influence able to handle adversity! -- Adrian, Miami.
A: First, I don't think that's necessarily Luol's locker-room personality. Plus, even when LeBron James was the center of attention, Erik Spoelstra kept Dwyane Wade and Udonis Haslem as the two co-captains, and I certainly don't expect that to change. What I do expect to change is Chris Bosh's voice. As the highest-paid player on the team (a distinction he previously shared with James) and holding the longest contract on the team, his voice has to resonate more than it has during the past four seasons. I still expect Haslem to be the emotional leader, and I still expect Wade to offer championship perspective. But I think it's Bosh who has to set more of a tone. As for Deng, it's difficult to establish a leadership role while holding a two-year contract that allows you, because of an option clause, to become a free agent as soon as next summer. While Deng was brought in for several reasons, I'm not sure emerging as a leader was one of them. But, as you note, the last few weeks just might have changed that equation.
Q: Danny Ferry is an NBA "Untouchable." Given his pedigree, particularly his father, Bob Ferry, you will see, and already have seen (Commissioner Adam Silver) the NBA Establishment circle the wagons around him. Nepotism is alive and strong in the NBA! -- Paul.
A: I can't fathom any new majority owner of the Hawks keeping him on. It would have been like the Clippers retaining Donald Sterling as a consultant (Shelly Sterling as No. 1 fan is a different story). Whether his comments lead to the result, or whether it is the impending ownership change, Ferry appears to be involved in a lose-lose proposition. (And based on the way the audio of the Hawks' in-house evaluation session was released, I'm not sure many would want to work alongside anyone in the current Atlanta ownership regime. To a degree, it makes you appreciate the lockdown that Pat Riley/Micky Arison have in place.)
Q: Andray Blatche. Andray Blatche. Andray Blatche. Why is it so hard for the Heat to make this happen Ira? This guy can play and needs to be the starter next to Chris Bosh at center, so Chris can be his old self at power forward. -- Joe, Birmingham, Ala.
A: I guess "Andray Blatche. Andray Blatche. Andray Blatche." is this September's version of what "Michael Beasley. Michael Beasley. Michael Beasley." was during last season.
September 12, 2014
Q: Ira, I listened to the Danny Ferry tape and don't know how he said what he said and wanted to pay Luol Deng the same, or more, than the Heat spent. No wonder the best he could do was re-sign Elton Brand. -- Susan.
A: First, what was available on the tape was just a portion of the hour-long evaluation session. And except for the "African" comment, part of any scouting report is to present the pluses and minuses, and to make sure the negatives are expressed to ownership before the money is spent and the second-guessing begins. While the racial component of the evaluation cannot be overlooked -- whether intentional or misguided -- what becomes overwhelmingly clear is the dysfunction of the Hawks' ownership and management. Assuming the conversation wasn't illegally taped, how any team can allow something that sensitive to become public in recorded form is remarkable. If I'm Adam Silver, after the now-necessary investigation into the comments themselves, the next step has to be getting the entire Hawks ownership in a room and reading them the riot act. Of course, with these Hawks owners, somebody probably will be taping that, as well.
Q: Ira, stop keep putting Andray Blatche's name out there. If Pat Riley wanted him, he would have had him. There isn't anyone knocking down the door. -- Owen.
A: I'm putting it out there only as a reference point of what's left among big men on the market, for a team that clearly has such a void. I'm not saying there aren't blemishes or that there aren't off-court concerns. But I have a hard time believing Nazr Mohammed or Ryan Hollins are better than what the Heat already have in their power rotation with Chris Bosh, Josh McRoberts, Chris Andersen, Udonis Haslem, Justin Hamilton and Shawne Williams. I think you could make an argument that Blatche would upgrade that group. Whether Blatche would want to be the fourth player in a team's power rotation is another story.
Q: Chris Bosh will be a beast. Josh McRoberts will surprise. Luol Deng will fill in. Dwyane Wade will be healthy (I hope). Go Heat. -- Yunasi.
A: Luol Deng will do more than "fill in." And Dwyane Wade has to be healthy. A lot of factors that were masked by LeBron James will come under greater inspection this season. To a degree, there will be a greater breadth of focus on the roster this coming season.
September 11, 2014
Q: Regardless of future moves, now is the time for the players to get to know each other's quirks and what the coaching staff expects of them. With only seven weeks before the season starts, there is a lot to do to establish a comfort zone between everyone. A missed pass or blown assignment is often due to players not reading each other's intentions correctly. That takes time and bonding. -- Dean, Miami
A: I agree. To a point. This also is a time for players to clear their minds one final time before training camp, be it Dwyane Wade's honeymoon or Chris Bosh taking in Fashion Week in New York. While I do agree that this will be more of a teaching camp than during recent seasons, with so many newcomers, it also will be a camp with far fewer distractions than previous years. The trip to Brazil will help with bonding, but that time probably could have been put to better use on the practice court at AmericanAirlines Arena. So, to your point, while there will be a greater need for bonding and teaching, there also will be less time having to deal with the distractions that came with being the NBA's ultimate target with the NBA's ultimate player. I think the exhale will do some of the returning players good. Being the chased can grow exhausting, as can playing in the shadow of the player who casts the longest shadow in the game.
Q: Do you think the Heat will be able to sign Zoran Dragic? -- Justin, Pembroke Pines.
A: No, not with being limited to offering only the veteran minimum and with Goran Dragic's brother having a significant buyout clause in his contract in Spain. If it happens with the skilled shooting guard, it would be more likely in the offseason, when the Heat will have greater funds at their disposal.
Q: The Heat still need someone who can rebound. Why hasn't this been addressed? -- Scott.
A: Chris Bosh can rebound, and will have to. Josh McRoberts can rebound, and will be needed to. Luol Deng can rebound, and that is part of his allure in replacing LeBron James. Dwyane Wade used to rebound, and the hope is he will again. The real question is whether the Heat have the needed height to get the one rebound they have to get at the end of a close game. And that is a matter that remains unresolved. I agree.
September 10, 2014
Q: Ira, I was wondering why you list Norris Cole as your trading chip instead of Mario Chalmers? Is it because Norris has more worth on the trade market, or do you think Chalmers is a better fit for the Heat long term? -- Juan, Denver.
A: Cole is the only proven quantity on this roster who can be dealt before Dec. 15 (players signed in the offseason cannot be traded until then). This is not a matter of taking sides between Chalmers or Cole, nor is there even such a need. In fact, if you're asking what point guard could have the greatest impact on the Heat's personnel flexibility, an argument could be made that it's Shabazz Napier. Should Napier be able to move past his summer-league shooting struggles and prove NBA ready early on, it would give the Heat the flexibility to either thin their situation at point guard to address greater needs, or allow Chalmers to potentially emerge as a candidate for additional time at shooting guard.
Q: Ira, I don't know if Danny Ferry's comments about Luol Deng will get Deng fired up to play Atlanta this season, but I wonder what Erik Spoelstra's "brotherhood " speech will be before that game, like when LeBron James went back to play Cleveland or Chris Bosh to Toronto. -- Matt.
A: First, it remains to be seen what the fallout will be for Ferry. Beyond that, I think this is far too delicate a situation for Spoelstra or anyone in the Heat organization to turn into a rallying cry. This is not a case of proving something to management of a team that bypassed or shortchanged a former player; this is something that transcends pregame speeches. I would expect the Heat to downplay any Deng angle going into games against the Hawks. What will matter in those games against Atlanta is that they are against a division rival, and winning the Southeast no longer is a given for the Heat, in the absence of LeBron James.
Q: If the Heat start the season at four wins and 20 losses do you see them trading away several of their old players? -- Luis, Miami.
A: Um, yeah, that's not happening. They have the comfort of playing Philadelphia, Minnesota, Milwaukee, Orlando early in the schedule, and plenty of other favorable matchups. Plus, with Ray Allen not expected back and Shane Battier having retired, it's not as if there are many, if any, "old" players beyond, say, Chris Andersen. I think this staff and front office will keep these players well apprised of what many are saying about them and I would expect statements to be made early in the season.
September 9, 2014
Q: So is there no room for Wayne Ellington at this point? Looking at the fact that he's young, plays D, is a great 3-point shooter and is a guard that can play behind Dwyane Wade seems like more than enough of a reason to waive one of the non-guaranteed contracts. -- Bryant, Mountain View, Calif.
A: Hey, give me Wayne Ellington, Andray Blatche and Ramon Sessions and I'll have no trouble making the cuts to get down to the maximum 15 by the Oct. 29 season opener. There still is plenty of flexibility with this roster, and the luxury tax will not be a factor this season.
Q: Ira, I was going over the Heat's roster again on-line. I may be crazy but I think they are Top 4 in the East and one or two moves away from being a championship contender. -- Jose, Coral Gables.
A: I think the "one or two moves away" portion of the offseason is over. The Heat are not in position for game-changing moves, at least until the majority of the roster becomes trade eligible on Dec. 15. But all of that said, you certain can make a reasoned argument for the Heat contending for one of the top four spots in the East. I'd put Cleveland and Chicago in a top tier of their own, then could see the Heat at least contending for the third or fourth seeds in a group that includes Washington and Toronto (Charlotte certainly could push into that group, as well). What still has me wondering is what the possibilities would have been like had the Heat retained LeBron James and added Josh McRoberts and Danny Granger to the mix. But it's probably time to move on in that regard.
Q: So Dwyane Wade is on safari on his honeymoon three weeks before the start of camp? Is that what you want from your co-captain? -- Al.
A: First, I never begrudge anyone time away from work with Gabrielle Union. Beyond that, it is not unusual for players, or even coaches, to get away from what will be at least eight months of near constant work. What matters is the type of shape players are in when they return. This is Dwyane's time. Soon it will be the Heat's. For the moment, he only needs to be on his own clock.
September 8, 2014
Q: Ryan Hollins and Nazr Mohammed couldn't get off the bench for their teams last season, so why would the Heat think they could help them this season? -- Art.
A: This is the time of the offseason when teams run free-agency leftovers through workouts just to see if there is anything left, from both the player and the market. At this stage, we're talking possible 15th men, players who could provide a veteran option if other offseason moves don't work out. We're essentially talking practice players, mentors. Of what's left on the free-agency market about the only players I would still consider potential contributors (beyond restricted free agent Eric Bledsoe, who is out of reach) are Andray Blatche, Ramon Sessions, Ray Allen, Emeka Okafor, Jordan Crawford, Wayne Ellington and, yes, Michael Beasley.
Q: Some of the offseason signings don't make sense to me. Signing Shawne Williams in lieu of Michael Beasley seems bizarre. Beasley showed a maturity to his offensive game last year. He could take his man off the dribble, drive the lane, hit the midrange jumper, as well as the three. Now, Erik Spoelstra /Pat Riley may not have been thrilled with his defense, but then they sign the likes of Reggie Williams, who is infamous for notoriously bad defense. -- Matt.
A: I always come back to this: Teams see things in practice, in the locker room and even during offseason workouts that we don't. So it really comes down to the faith, or lack thereof, in those making such judgments.
Q: I love watching the James Ennis highlights on YouTube. He reminds me of a young Gerald Wallace. Is a player like Ennis better off riding the pine on the Heat roster, scoring 25 a night in the D-League, or playing overseas again? -- Beau, Wellington.
A: Overseas is not an option with the guaranteed money the Heat have already committed. I suspect the Heat will decide during camp whether he can be part of the season-opening rotation or whether he would be better off getting seasoning in the D-League. It could come down to who is named coach of the Sioux Falls Skyforce and how much of an imprint there is there from the Heat coaching staff.
September 7, 2014
Q: What are the chances Miami signs Andray Blatche? -- Marshall.
A: If it were up to me (and it never is), it would be a no-brainer. Frankly, I think a lot of it would be up to Blatche, a willingness to buy into the Heat system and accept a minimal contract. Even that tweet that came out at the World Cup, saying Blatche was returning to Miami to negotiate . . . there is nothing to negotiate, at least with the Heat. The minimum is all they have to offer. I would be shocked if the Heat would allow a guarantee to get in the way. But you do have to wonder about Blatche being forced to wait this late in the process, whether there isn't more at play than salary or role.
Q: I'm not trying to reminiscence here, but why would the Heat pass on Leandro Barbosa, especially the way he has been playing in the World Cup? -- Bruno, Fort Lauderdale.
A: Word is Barbosa received a full guarantee from the Warriors, while the Heat got Shannon Brown to come to camp without a guarantee. Again, I can appreciate in previous seasons, when the Heat were deep into the luxury tax, how they would want to avoid guarantees. But with the tax not in play at this point, I would hope the Heat's decisions are about more than minimal guarantees, and are more about skill. I can't see how the Heat wouldn't be better with Blatche/Barbosa than, say, Shawne Williams/Shannon Brown. But it's Pat Riley's opinion and Micky Arison's money that matter most.
Q: Maybe I'm a bit off, but I am not so thrilled about these next two seasons. But come 2016, I am. With so many top free agents plus a new television contract with much larger cap room, the Heat will be in position for two top free agents and Chris Bosh's $22 million won't be that high. How would a Kevin Durant-Bosh-Joakim Noah core look? Or a Chris Paul-Bosh-Dwight Howard? Dwyane Wade will retire by then. -- Martin.
A: Dwyane isn't retiring as long as there is money to be made. As for your greater point, I absolutely hate -- and I mean hate -- how the NBA has made acceptable willing away two years of your fandom in the hope of something better. It's practically criminal that some teams are allowed to operate that way. A lot can happen in two years . . . or nothing. Think about how Houston gave up Omer Asik and Jeremy Lin on a whim this offseason. . . for nothing in return. And think about how the Bulls previously thought they might get Wade or Bosh in 2010 and then Carmelo Anthony this offseason. It's almost the NBA's opiate, this wait-for-coming-years tease. No, I'll take living in the moment anytime.
September 6, 2014
Q: Everyone seems to have written Danny Granger off, but Granger still has an All-Star pedigree, with maybe a little left in the tank. -- Claudia, Miami.
A: While there is no doubt that Dwyane Wade's return to form is the key for the re-imagined Heat, Granger stands as the newcomer who could provide the greatest unexpected boost. Josh McRoberts and Luol Deng are known quantities; they do what they do and they do it efficiently, if not spectacularly. But Granger not so long ago was a player opponents game-planned against. Clearly much has changed in the intervening months, with the way he was flipped between the Pacers, 76ers and Clippers, and then how he was available for such a minimal salary. But he already is at AmericanAirlines Arena working out, seemingly committed to rebuilding his career. While it's a double-edged sword, with so many Heat players holding out-opts after the current season, it also could be a source for extreme motivation, particularly with Granger.
Q: I completely agree Heat will provide a lot of entertainment value this year. Imagine fans of the 76ers, Magic, Jazz, who have no shot. Last year was a one-trick pony with LeBron James. It's going to seem strange having Jason Jackson interview somebody else after the game. Last year the Heat almost mailed in some games, but this year the entire team knows they will have step up their intensity. I am a big believer that fans don't want to see old retreads (except Birdman), but new faces that have star potential. The storylines this year will be more fascinating. -- Susan, Miami.
A: As regular readers of this space have seen in the past few weeks, there have been plenty of offerings like this. And that says plenty about a fan base willing to stand by its team. But my question is whether the enthusiasm will be there if the competitiveness is there but not the desired win total. There was a time when a gritty 42-40 or 44-38 Heat team was all that was required. I'm not sure the Heat, or their fans, would be willing to be in that place any time soon.
Q: Say it ain't so! "Can Do" McAdoo is no longer coaching. Bob McAdoo on the bench always seemed like a calming influence, a familiar face full of confidence. McAdoo is basketball royalty. As a player he was up there with Dr. J and Michael Jordan. Rumor has it he can still beat most of the players on the Heat in a game of H-O-R-S-E. Maybe he could be the Heat's shooting coach? -- Stuart.
A: Well, at least players won't be losing as much money in shooting games now. Now his scouting job is to find players who can score like he could, which won't be easy.
September 5, 2014
Q: This season promises to be an exciting one for the Heat with returning players taking on a different set of responsibilities and the new additions looking to get minutes. As you pointed out, the chemistry of this year's team is unknown. The Andre Dawkins and Khem Birch signings maybe were done with an eye to see how the expanded squad shakes out until Dec. 15, when Pat Riley has some chips to trade and the coaches have a better idea of how the wing players (Shabazz Napier, Norris Cole, Mario Chalmers) perform. The deal Kevin Durant signed with Nike puts coaches such as Erik Spoelstra on the hot seat, because some players may want a lot of minutes to stuff the stat sheet, while coaches realize limiting time and having a strong bench wins games. Durant has not won a ring yet gets big bucks. This year, Spoelstra has the pieces to create a winning bench, even though by definition undrafted players have major flaws. I hope the reserves turn out better than Michael Beasley and Greg Oden, who had so much promise. -- Justin, Miami.
A: Whew. All I know is that going into camp, coaches almost always talk about prospects and grooming them for the future, and yet, at the moments of truth, when it comes to making final cuts and setting rotations, they almost always go with the proven quantities. It will be interesting to see if youth can prevail against the likes of Shannon Brown, Shawne Williams, Reggie Williams and, when it comes to playing time, perhaps even Udonis Haslem.
Q: With the signing of Epke Udoh and now Greg Stiemsma elsewhere, are the Heat running out of options with what's left in free agency? -- Lester, Miami.
A: It all comes down to what you think of Chris Bosh, Josh McRoberts, Chris Andersen, Udonis Haslem and Justin Hamilton. If you believe a free agent would slot in ahead of at least two of those players, then you can make an argument. But aside from Andray Blatche, it's not as if there have been any big men out there who clearly would supplant what the Heat already have in place.
Q: Why is it that fans think every other GM in the league is stupid and would take the Heat's trash for their best player? It's incredible to me that fans just don't think these proposed trades through. What if the Heat were on the other side of the trade, would the Heat do the trade? -- Michael.
A: Put it this way, I just got one that suggested the Suns would get Rajon Rondo from the Celtics, the Heat would get Erik Bledsoe from the Suns, and the Celtics would get Chalmers and Cole from the Heat. Somehow, I figure Danny Ainge would think otherwise. Of course, it would be a heck of a STFU II if Riley could pull that one off.
September 4, 2014
Q: Do the Heat's coaching reassignments and Keith Smart potentially joining the team mean that Erik Spoelstra is finally outgrowing Pat Riley and finding his own way? -- Anthony.
A: I think Erik has already found his own way. I also think, to a degree, that became an issue, with Spoelstra taking a most un-Riley approach with his aggressive defensive schemes. While Riley's teams never gambled as much on defense, Riley's teams almost always had a rim protector, be it Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Patrick Ewing, Alonzo Mourning or Shaquille O'Neal. I don't think the staffing issue is one of Spoelstra vs. Riley. It's more of creating the same type of comfort zone that Riley has with his assistants while coaching. While the shift obviously impacts Ron Rothstein and Bob McAdoo, this hardly changes the direction of the team or the overall dynamic with the front office.
Q: Do you think that after December 15 there is a chance the Heat could put Danny Granger and Luol Deng together in a package deal? By then, Granger might become viewed as a prospect that can pay off and Deng already is a good scorer and defender. The Heat could potentially get something good for the both of them. -- Ezio, Miami.
A: Or, even better, the two could thrive as a one-two punch at small forward and give the Heat what they need from the position and in the wing rotation. Deng is a known quantity; when healthy, he has proven his ability to contribute on a playoff team. If Granger comes around -- and that's a huge "if" -- then many of the concerns about the Heat's depth will be alleviated. Signing Granger and Deng wasn't about setting them up as trade chips, it was about providing more quality depth to the perimeter rotation than had been in place. I highly doubt the Heat are looking at Dec. 15 (the first day players signed in the offseason can be moved) as some sort of target date. If there is a trade then, it likely would be if Granger is unable to produce, more than if he again is able to thrive.
Q: The Heat should retire Giancarlo Stanton's number. -- Q.
A: But that might make Michael Jordan and Dan Marino jealous. Then again, Pat Riley might have more of a chance of keeping Stanton in South Florida than Jeffrey Loria.
September 3, 2014
Q: I believe Chris Bosh's ability to be the go-to player the Heat need will depend on him playing power forward more consistently, where he excels. Any indications from this roster and potential signings that is a possibility? -- Jonathan, Miami.
A: No. There is no one the Heat have signed or likely can sign who would be better than having Josh McRoberts and Bosh playing together with the starters. As it is, those are the only two players on the current roster under contract for more than two years. Chris Andersen has too much mileage to play starter's minutes, and even if Andray Blatche could be signed, he sets up more as offense off the bench. But it will be intriguing to see how the Bosh/McRoberts dynamic plays out during camp and whether the needed chemistry is there. The possibilities are intriguing.
Q: Ira, you write about Andre Dawkins and Khem Birch as if they are someone the other teams let get away. If either makes the 15-man roster, then Pat Riley hasn't done his job. -- Rich.
A: Look, this time of year isn't just about filling out the rotation, or perhaps even filling out the final 15-player roster. Remember, the Heat also have an NBDL team to stock after final NBA cuts are made. A year ago, the Heat convinced Justin Hamilton and Larry Drew III to go from training camp to Sioux Falls. That could be what some of these recent signings are about, an expression of confidence or hope for down the road.
Q: Ira, is there more to the change in assistant coaches than simply, "it's normal change"? Those coaches were part of the four consecutive NBA Finals appearances these past four years and on the surface there seemed to be a lot of in-game collaboration between them and Erik Spoelstra. -- C.C., Key Biscayne.
A: I think the only reason the Heat's reassignment of Ron Rothstein and Bob McAdoo has become a story is because how loyal the Heat have been to their staffs over the years. Coaching staffs evolve, especially when a team transitions to another coach. To a degree, this simply is bench evolution catching up with Spoelstra's tenure.
September 2, 2014
Q: Wayne Ellington is a career 38-percent 3-point shooter. The Heat need help spreading the floor. To me, signing him is a no-brainer. Otherwise you rely on Mario Chalmers? C'mon. -- Martin.
A: Totally agree. Which also is why patience is so important throughout this process, because players do tend to shake free. The difference between this and, say, Shannon Brown, is the Heat should not think twice when it comes to a guarantee. If that's what it takes to land Ellington, provided he can be signed at the veteran minimum, then that's what the Heat need to do, allowing the roster and rotation to shake out during camp. It's one thing to count dollars while a tax team, but a completely different situation in the Heat's new, post-LeBron James reality.
Q: At this point wouldn't Ekpe Udoh or Andray Blatche be a better option than Nazr Mohammed? -- Bryan, Mountain View, Calif.
A: I don't know about Udoh, because I simply haven't seen enough. But the way Blatche has looked at the World Cup, of course he would be preferable. But it's also a matter of the commitment the Heat would be willing to take in terms of role. For example, with Chris Bosh and Josh McRoberts starting, and with Chris Andersen brought back on a two-year, $10 million deal, would there be enough of a role there for Blatche to embrace? Otherwise, I don't see how he wouldn't help. Add Blatche and Ellington and I don't think there would be nearly as much concern about a drop off with the Heat bench if Ray Allen doesn't return.
Q: Ira, do you have any background info on the changes to the Heat's coaching staff? I understand the staff is "evolving," but why and in what direction? Thanks. -- Ricardo, Miami.
A: Basically, in Erik Spoelstra's direction, that after six years as head coach, he has earned the right to determine his own staff, not have Pat Riley dictate that decision from the front office. This is not about Ron Rothstein or Bob McAdoo; this is about Spoelstra's comfort of "his" people in "his" huddle. It is extremely rare to have had a staff, as the Heat did with Rothstein and McAdoo, that transitions through three different head coaches.
September 1, 2014
Q: What if Pat Riley had worked behind the scenes to orchestrate a trade involving something like Deng, Josh McRoberts and Chalmers for Kevin Love? -- Jason, Miami Lakes.
A: OK, hopefully for the final time this offseason, let me again explain: Players signed in the offseason cannot be dealt before Dec. 15, with the exception of draft picks. So Chris Bosh, McRoberts, Chris Andersen, Udonis Haslem, Deng, Danny Granger, Dwyane Wade, Chalmers and others aren't going anywhere before then. It's why the Heat are extremely limited when it comes to trade chips beyond, perhaps, Norris Cole and Justin Hamilton, the only players who were under contract to the team at the start of the offseason. Don't blame Riley; blame the collective-bargaining agreement. Besides, Minnesota got a heck of a package for Love in Andrew Wiggins, Anthony Bennett and Thaddeus Young, one the Heat were in no position to match, CBA restrictions of otherwise.
Q: Considering the Heat's weakness is at point guard, don't they have to explore Rajon Rondo if the Celtics consider moving him, perhaps something with Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole? -- Humberto.
A: When it comes to trade possibilities with Chalmers and other Heat assets, see the above. But beyond whether the Celtics would be willing to wait until Dec. 15 (and they just might, since there would be so much more available to trade for), it's not as if the Heat have many chips to put into play even then. Remember, the Heat's 2015 first-round pick is headed to the 76ers provided it is not among the first 10. That would mean the Heat could not include a first-round pick in any deal that's for earlier than 2017 (and even then there could be strings attached). And it's not as if the Heat have the type of young prospects that intrigue, such as the Cavaliers had for the Love deal.
Q: Recently, you mentioned Pat Riley's winning-or-misery perspective. One of the more enjoyable seasons in Miami Heat history was the team (2003-2004 season) the Heat had the year before Shaq came to Miami, with Lamar Odom, Caron Butler, Brian Grant, Eddie Jones, Dwayne Wade, Rafer Alston. The Heat won 18 of their last 19 games and there was a Friday night game in March against the Dallas Mavericks when Alston hit a 3-pointer with .5 seconds left in overtime to win the game. There was pandemonium and joy at AmericanAirlines Arena. Sheer joy and happiness. The Heat beat New Orleans in the playoffs, but lost to Indiana in the second round. Fans talked about the Miami Heat all summer. There will be plenty more exciting and fun nights at the AAA. -- S.R.
A: I remember Rafer's shot and that season. The difference is the Heat weren't yet a championship team at that stage. What the Heat need to convey this coming season is the type of charisma of that team. Basically, Bosh, McRoberts and others have to become embraceable. (It could be a bit tougher with Deng, who has an opt out after this season, with fans perhaps reluctant to bond with a player who soon could be gone, especially in light of James' departure.)
August 31, 2014
Q: Now the Clippers and Spurs, in addition to the Cavs (so called "elite teams"), are showing interest in signing Ray Allen. I hope Chris Bosh, Dwayne Wade and their Heat teammates have a great season and make the Miami Heat an elite team. Somehow I remember that the minute Ray Allen came on the court for the Miami Heat last season, the opposing teams went right at Ray on defense, which contributed to the Heat's fall off on defense. -- Stuart.
A: But he also gave the Heat the single greatest moment in franchise history. The difference between LeBron James leaving and Dwyane Wade staying is that Ray already has shifted between teams, so it's not as if there is a definitive loyalty either to a certain team or certain town. Having already played in Seattle, Milwaukee, Boston and Miami, it's not as if another team would damage his legacy. And frankly, he likely could have more impact elsewhere. As for his defense, much of that was offset by attracting the attention of the opposition on offense, no matter his 3-point percentage. No matter how this ends with the Heat, he should always be remembered fondly for what he allowed the franchise to achieve.
Q: I'm not going to debate Shannon Brown with you, because I can't remember seeing him last season. But I do know he has the same contract as Rodney Stuckey. So did someone fall asleep at the switch? -- Bertram.
A: First there is the issue of guaranteed money, with Brown reportedly getting none, as opposed to the guarantee offered Stuckey by the Pacers. But I agree that with the Heat out of the luxury tax, that such minimal funding no longer should be an overriding concern. The difference is Stuckey saw an opportunity to move into the Pacers' starting lineup, in the wake of Lance Stephenson's departure to the Hornets, likely making him more amenable to such a salary in Indiana. With the Heat, he would have lined up no better than a backcourt reserve. What I would say is that if Pat Riley knew LeBron James was leaving, I think you would have seen a significantly different approach to the Heat's offseason.
Q: Is there a chance Wade could return to his prime form? He isn't that old, right? -- Joe, Tallahassee.
A: He turns 33 in January, which is not exactly young for a player whose game is based on explosion. Basically this is when we will see how much Kobe Bryant, how much defiance to age, Wade has in him.
August 30, 2014
Q: Nothing this summer has given me any real hope we have a shot. -- Robert.
A: A shot at what? At a championship? At a return to the NBA Finals? At a competitive season? At compelling basketball on most nights? Look, this is where, for all he has accomplished as a coach and executive, I blame Pat Riley for his trite winning-or-misery perspective. If a championship is the only acceptable result, I suggest taking in a movie on game nights. One team wins a championship, so the other 29 don't have "a shot"? Yes, the NBA is as predictable as any league when it comes to forecasting the last teams standing, and it hardly was prophetic to predict the Heat, Pacers, Spurs and Thunder as last season's final four. But I would go the other way when it comes to a feeling of doom. Plenty of other teams would cash out after losing a player like LeBron James. The Heat instead circled back to Luol Deng and then went out and spent as much as any team this offseason. What the Heat have "a shot" with this coming season is being competitive in every regular-season game and being a tough out in the playoffs. There are worse ways to spend at least six months of your time.
Q: I will agree with your positive outlook on the breakup as soon as I see another player wearing Heat jersey No. 6 this coming season. Such action would be a clear message that, yes, we, too, see it as a mutually satisfactory four-year relationship that ran its course, that we enjoyed it while it lasted, now you got your No. 23 back and we got our No. 6 back. No harm done; all good. Can you ask my fellow readers where their heart is on the get-No. 6-back ballot? -- Ari, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
A: You just did. I'm just not sure anyone would want to be the next Heat player to wear No. 6, at least this soon after LeBron's departure. (And I still think, when numbers are retired down the road, when the parties have moved on, that the numbers of LeBron James and Shaquille O'Neal still aren't eventually retired by the Heat.)
Q: Any possibility of Danny Granger coming back as anything close to the All-Star he once was? The Heat have one of the best training staffs. Granger could become a major component to this team off the bench. -- Gabriel, Miami.
A: Based on the depth the Heat have at small forward and shooting guard, they basically need that to happen. By agreeing with Granger so early in the free-agency process, it certainly has positioned the Heat with an entire summer to work with Granger on a rehab schedule.
August 29, 2014
Q: All of your arguments with signings like Shannon Brown are followed by "if" Dwyane Wade is healthy or "if" Danny Granger is back. I agree with that. However, this team should not be going forward like this. It's too risky. We need a better backup for Wade and the need at point guard has not been addressed, which was a glaring deficiency in the Finals. I know Pat Riley is not done, and as much as I hope D.W. is healthy, it makes no sense to risk the season on "ifs." -- Chet.
A: "Ifs" are what every team that's not the favorite carry into the season. I'm sure last year at this time the concerns in San Antonio included "if" the Spurs aren't too old, the caution in Oklahoma City was "if" Russell Westbrook could stay healthy, the worry in Chicago was "if" Derrick Rose could last an entire season. As for point guard, the worry a year ago was "if" Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole were good enough to get the Heat back to the Finals.
Q: Face it, to this point Pat Riley has done a very questionable job in putting together a bench that makes sense. You know better. Let's hope James Ennis or somebody unexpected will emerge. -- Matt.
A: All teams have flaws. What I know is that with Chris Bosh and Josh McRoberts, this team is better set 1-2 in the power rotation than it has been in years. And Shabazz Napier has a winning pedigree, so don't sell him short in the backcourt rotation. Perhaps he's your "bonus" addition. And there still are names and time out there. For every Leandro Barbosa that has come off the board, there still is a Jordan Crawford. And there also will be plenty of buyout names as camps draw closer, Jason Richardson potentially among them.
Q: I think what is frustrating for Miami Heat fans is that in some weird way it feels as though the last four years didn't exist. It is as though they have been erased from NBA memory. Does that make sense? Of course they haven't, and we have great memories. But LeBron James is gone and he was such a big part of the team. LeBron became an NBA champion with the Heat, attacked all the way through, and now back with Cleveland he is loved! Instead of the media writing about will the Heat make a record fifth consecutive trip to the NBA Finals (and this is how the 2014-2015 team compares to the prior years' teams.), we are still in a bit of a daze even though we understand why LeBron left. -- Stuart.
A: My response to that would be that even when the Heat won titles, Erik Spoelstra would say on the opening day of camp that it is time to move on, that you have to close the book on the previous season. There also is the reality that this is not the same team. If LeBron would have left and if Luol Deng was the only change, then with Shane Battier, Ray Allen, Rashard Lewis and others, it would have had the feel of somewhat of the same team. But there has been a significant overhaul. This is not your 2013-14 Heat or the roster that made four consecutive NBA Finals. Pat Riley has moved on. So, apparently, has the NBA. What matters is embracing what is next.
August 28, 2014
Q: Hi Ira, Shannon Brown? He's not a rotation player, by any means. He's a decent defender, and a horrible shooter. He's a 10-day-contract type of player. The bizarre free-agent signings continue. I'm hoping we get Leandro Barbosa after the World Cup is over. If healthy, he can help. -- Matt.
A: As I've continued to stress, these signings are ancillary to the top of the rotation. What matters in the NBA is the top eight. So it comes down to whether you believe a player added supplants one of: Chris Bosh, Josh McRoberts, Luol Deng, Dwyane Wade, Mario Chalmers, Chris Andersen, Danny Granger or Norris Cole. Otherwise, what you want are specialists, players who do one thing well, whether it is 3-point shooting, rebounding or defending. So with Brown, the hope has to be that the Heat have added a guard who can come off the bench as a stopper. Reggie Williams, Shawne Williams and Shannon Brown are about emergency depth. What the Heat have to hope is that Wade is healthy enough to play an entire season and that Danny Granger is what Pat Riley has been telling us Granger still can be.
Q: So much for Leandro Barbosa or Jordan Crawford, huh? -- Bryan, Mountain View.
A: Not necessarily. Remember, the Heat are operating well below the luxury tax, so there is minimal impact on offering minimal salaries. The question is whether Crawford sees himself in that neighborhood. I still believe that Barbosa, at this stage of his career, if healthy, had more upside for the Heat than Brown. But ESPN is reporting he is signing with the Warriors..
Q: Why not Andray Blatche indeed? He keeps a summer home near Miami. It would be great for the team. And he fits on the type of big Miami is usually after. -- Ryan, Naples.
A: I'm not sure about the last part, considering the liability aspect on defense. But, again, at the minimum, the price is almost always right.
August 27, 2014
Q: Ira, all week you've been talking about the Heat lacking a rim protector and that's why the defense needs to be better. So what about Hasheem Thabeet now that he's going to be released by Philly? -- Thad.
A: There is a reason Thabeet has bounced from team to team in recent years, and much of it is that he simply has not panned into an NBA player. You could make an argument that Joel Anthony at the moment could do more for the Heat's defense than Thabeet. But, again, this latest deal between Oklahoma City and Philadelphia is further evidence that there still could be several names that shake free, either through buyouts or releases, prior to the start of training camp. There is something to be said about patience at this stage. As it is, the Heat likely have accounted for their first eight, anyway, when counting Chris Bosh, Josh McRoberts, Luol Deng, Dwyane Wade, Mario Chalmers, Chris Andersen, Danny Granger and Norris Cole. What you're looking for at this stage are specialists. So it comes down to whether you still view Thabeet as enough of a defensive specialist.
Q: Playing "Pat Riley" for a second, you're the GM of the Heat and you need to fill out these last spots. Who does Ira the GM see as the best free agents left to fill in for the Heat and who would you choose? -- Nick, Coral Spring.
A: Putting aside Eric Bledsoe and Greg Monroe, since restricted free agents are beyond the Heat's means, I certainly would consider Andray Blatche and hope the Heat resurrection program still has one more reclamation project left in it. And I've been on record that there is something tempting about Jordan Crawford's streak scoring. But, again, it comes down to whether either would be amenable to the veteran minimum, since that's all the Heat have left to offer. I think what I'd be more prone to do is wait through at least some of training camp to see if Shabazz Napier is ready for NBA minutes. If he is, then Cole and his $2 million contract could possibly be put into play in a trade.
Q: Ira, it is a normal reaction based on the following to be depressed as a Heat fan? 1. Wade (knee issue and I am not sure why he didn't lose weight last year as more than one NBA TV commentator noticed it). 2. Bosh (seems to not to have the killer instinct like a LeBron or Wade has). 3. Chalmers (not sure where is head is at some games). 4. LeBron (Did he just win GM of the year award?). -- C.C., Key Biscayne.
A: Depressed? Depressed is what Cavaliers fans endured the past four years: falling to the bottom of the standings and finding yourself in Northeast Ohio in February. Every roster, including LeBron's current one in Cleveland, has players with warts. Each of the Heat players you mentioned also has enough skill to create hope. As for LeBron's management skills, what this league has shown is that it is better to have players broker deals, since they are not under the same contact restrictions as management.
August 26, 2014
Q: I know Leandro Barbosa and Jordan Crawford, if the Heat sign one or both, are capable of providing good offense in short bursts, but who is going to play better defense? -- Bryan, Mountain View, Calif.
A: In the absence of a rim protector other than Chris Andersen, it is going to have to be everyone. But it has to start with Dwyane Wade for several reasons, foremost setting an example. Look, we all were exposed to that YouTube breakdown of Dwyane's defense in the NBA Finals, and, fair or not, it left an enduring impression. What would change that perception, and what would motivate from his position as team co-captain, would be leadership by example on that end of the court. Yes, Luol Deng is more of a defensive stopper. Yes, Chris Bosh is asked to cover more ground than any player in the Heat defensive system. But a Dwyane Wade who is recommitted to defense could be a game-changer.
Q: How does LeBron James come out smelling like roses in all this? Here is a guy who just ditched two good buddies (maybe one a real close friend) and who he had been to four NBA Finals with and has set this franchise back by playing defense on them during free agency, someone who left to be with a younger version (but maybe not better version, time will tell) of what he had here. How is his lack of loyalty and commitment to teammates, fans, organization not get called out here and how is it that he just does not give an [expletive]? Hope one day he gets what he deserves for what he has done to fans in Cleveland (2010) and Miami as a whole. Not wishing the guy nothing ill or stupid like that, but he has had it so easy in the NBA, getting his way always. I now can't stand the guy and dislike him a lot! -- Julio.
A: I know this won't placate you at all, but the reality is the NBA is a league where the mega stars have all the power, be it what LeBron did in 2010 or this summer, what Shaquille O'Neal did when he left the Magic or Lakers, or even what Dwight Howard did when he left the Magic and Lakers, as well. And, even before that, it was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar who forced his way out of Milwaukee. It's just the reality in a sport when only five play at a time, and where a single player can change the balance of power. But, again, as I have been stressing in this space for weeks now, also take time to appreciate the past four years, and how this team won't plunge to nearly the same depths that the Cavaliers subjected their fans after LeBron's 2010 decision.
Q: Now that General Manager LeBron James basically traded Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh for Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving, do you think Wade and Bosh will be extra motivated this season, considering they had a lot to do with (more than fans probably know and realize) LeBron James finally becoming a champion? -- Stuart.
A: The thing is, while you might see it that way, I'm not sure Wade and Bosh do. I think they just saw it as someone moving as part of the NBA's evolution, that's all.
August 25, 2014
Q: Why could the Heat not have signed LeBron James and traded him to Cleveland for some future first-round picks, as Cleveland received from Miami four years ago? Was their some type of rule that prevented this, or did the Heat miss out on an opportunity due to egos or hard feelings? -- Brian,
A: OK, because this has become an issue again with the Heat's 2015 lottery-protected pick being part of the Cavaliers-Timberwolves-76ers trade this weekend, I'll again attempt to clarify the various aspects. The primary reason the Heat made the LeBron and Chris Bosh sign-and-trade deals in 2010 was to be able to offer higher raises to the two in their initial Heat contracts, therefore getting them to leave a bit more on the table initially, to allow Pat Riley to round out that 2010-11 roster. It also allowed the Heat to sign James and Bosh to six-year contacts, affording the players security in case of injury. Because LeBron only wanted a two-year deal from the Cavaliers, with a player option after the first year, the issue of raises and years never was a factor. So there was absolutely no incentive for the Cavaliers to turn it into a sign-and-trade. Plus, LeBron didn't force the issue, since it was an extra first-round pick that helped seal the acquisition of Kevin Love. Rule 1 of all transactions involving LeBron: What LeBron wants, LeBron gets.
Q: I know hindsight always has perfect vision, but if the Big 3 were going to get player options after four years, what exactly was the point of trading two first round picks to Cleveland? -- Kevin, Sunrise.
A: Because those deals were negotiated before the latest collective-bargaining agreement, without knowing when the new agreement could be re-opened and what the new work rules were going to be like. So basically LeBron, Bosh and Dwyane Wade covered themselves for any eventuality. And let's be realistic, who could have possibly fathomed that a player would walk away from a team that has appeared in four consecutive NBA Finals? That's what still tends to get somewhat overlooked: The Heat got LeBron exactly where he wanted to go, with the contract terms he insisted upon. Lament the picks dealt to Toronto and Cleveland if you must, but would you rather have had those picks or championship parades in 2012 and '13, as well as playing in the final game of the NBA season the past four years?
Q: So when it is all said and done, who will have had the better Big Three: Miami's previous trio of LeBron, Wade and Bosh, or Cleveland's current grouping of LeBron, Love and Kyrie Irving? -- Stuart.
A: I'll reserve judgment to first see how Love and Kyrie produce in their first trips to the playoffs, as well as whether Love and Irving are willing/able to put in playoff-level defensive performances. Just as Kobe Bryant tends to talk about when it comes to championships, we'll get back to you after LeBron-Love-Irving win their second NBA title.
August 24, 2014
Q: Does it concern you how sometimes Erik Spoelstra doesn't play his entire hand? I would really like to see some of the younger guys play (i.e., Shabazz Napier and James Ennis), but sometimes Spo's minute distribution is a little tight. And from the little I know about player development, I think I can say that younger players need to actually get time on the court to develop. Do you see this changing any time soon? -- Bryan, Mountain View, Calif.
A: Honestly, I'm not sure this is the time to do it. I think this season will be about (has to be about?) showing they can withstand the loss of LeBron James and remain competitive. It basically is what Micky Arison said in his letter to fans, and what Pat Riley said in his video to fans. Both said this would not be a time for rebuilding ("retooling" is as far as Riley would go). So I think you might sees drips and drabs of younger players, but I think the core this season will be the starting lineup of Chris Bosh, Josh McRoberts, Luol Deng, Dwyane Wade and Mario Chalmers, with Chris Andersen, Danny Granger and Norris Cole currently setting up as the first three off the bench. The question from there is whether the next set of minutes goes to Udonis Haslem and Reggie Williams/Shawne Williams, or whether those minutes go to the likes of Ennis, Napier, Justin Hamilton or Tyler Johnson. What we're really talking about is whether minutes can be carved out for a young player as ninth or 10th man.
Q: Low first-round pick for two titles? Make that trade every time. -- Sarah.
A: Still, in hindsight it does have to sting to send a second first-round pick to Cleveland so that LeBron James can sign with the Heat for six seasons in 2010, only to see him leave after four, and then have James' Cavaliers be able to use the 2015 first-round pick in the deal that lands Kevin Love.
Q: I'm not sure there ever has been a fan favorite in such a short period of time for the Heat than Chris Andersen. -- Shap.
A: It's gotten to the point where I'm not sure there is another player on the current roster who would attract as much attention as Birdman does at events such as Saturday's appearance at the Dick's Sporting Goods in Coral Springs. It was bedlam in there, with a huge cheer when he sat at his autograph table. (It was, though, a bit disconcerting how many adult Birdman imitators showed up. It practically was a Grizzly Adams convention.)
August 23, 2014
Q: Ira, in your opinion do you believe the Heat have a better roster now than they did when they were facing LeBron James and the Cavaliers before he joined Miami? -- Stefano.
A: That's an intriguing question, one that has to factor in that they still have Chris Bosh as a July 2010 addition, but a question that mostly comes down to what you think of today's Dwyane Wade vs. the Dwyane Wade who played for the Heat in 2009-10. As a matter of comparison, the final game the Heat played before acquiring LeBron was a 96-86 playoff loss to the Celtics on April 27, 2010. In that game, the Heat started Jermaine O'Neal at center, Michael Beasley and Quentin Richardson at forward, and Wade and Carlos Arroyo at guard, with Udonis Haslem, Mario Chalmers, Joel Anthony and Dorell Wright as the four reserves off the bench. This season, the Heat are expected to start Bosh at center, Josh McRoberts and Luol Deng at forward, and Wade and Chalmers at guard, with Chris Andersen, Danny Granger, Norris Cole and perhaps Haslem as the first four reserves off the bench. I think you certainly can make an argument for the current roster, if you still believe Wade is an All-Star talent. Remember, in that April 27, 2010 loss to the Celtics, the Heat were able to get 45 minutes, 38 seconds out of Wade.
Q: Are the Heat coaching staff still looking to keep playing Bosh at the five? I know that we all want big things from Bosh, so why not do the best we can to help him succeed by playing him at the four more often? -- Bryan, Mountain View, Calif.
A: Because about the only way, with this roster, that happens if is Birdman plays alongside Bosh, which is possible at times. But I also think that with Bosh starting alongside McRoberts, it won't be so simple to tell which is the power forward and which is the center. Bosh will play like Bosh, no matter the positional designation. The question is who the Heat are going to have banging against the big-muscle centers.
Q: Now that it's public knowledge that Ray Allen's furniture is packed up and wrapped in plastic, can the media catch on to what the public already knows: He is headed to Cleveland. The general manager, LeBron James, already recruited him in the Bahamas. -- Patrick, Hollywood.
A: Oh, everyone has caught on. First Kevin Love, then Ray Allen will arrive. It is why I think James Jones acted too impetuously. I can't fathom him getting many more minutes in Cleveland than in Miami, considering he would be playing with the Cavaliers behind Mike Miller and Allen, in addition to the 3-point shooting of Love.
August 22, 2014
Q: Like you point out, fewer than 10 players will get meaningful minutes during the season and only 13 can suit up for a game. With up to 20 candidates before the final cut to 15, some very difficult decisions have to be made on who to keep. Twenty-nine other teams will be vying to be the last one standing, so this year's Heat squad will be about the blood, sweat and tears each member brings to each game during the season. Seeing Dwyane Wade exhibiting true leadership is a great first step. -- William, Miami.
A: And I agree that getting together with Josh McRoberts, Mario Chalmers, Udonis Haslem and Norris Cole at Indiana University meant plenty. But what might mean more is Dwyane having himself in shape to possibly take on the challenge of playing 82 games, or at least something closer than the 54 he played last season. While leadership inspires confidence, so does having that leader alongside for an overwhelming amount of games. If there is maintenance this coming season, it should be in the form of reduced minutes in games, not outright absences. Of course proper depth on the wing is essentially for such an approach. The last thing the Heat can have is Wade starting sitting out portions of back-to-backs in November. The only exception I'd make there is if Danny Granger returns to a point where he can be a replacement scorer for a complete game.
Q: You keep mentioning that the Heat's biggest need is on the wing, but they don't seem to be pursuing any wing players. Do you think they are going to roll the dice with James Ennis as the backup small forward to start the season? -- Gabe, Portland, Ore.
A: No, they're going to roll the dice with Granger, whose play could go a long way in swinging the Heat's season one way or another. If he can be the so-called "missing wing," then a lot of concerns could be alleviated. I just don't think Ennis is ready for the transition from Australian league star to NBA rotation player.
Q: Why don't we hear anything about Josh McRoberts? He seems like he will be a solid addition and helps bring some toughness near the rim. Maybe he's not an All-Star, but he's a darn solid starter and a great pickup. -- Tyler, Fort Myers.
A: Foremost, because the story of the Heat's summer has been the loss of LeBron James, so even in trotting out McRoberts for a press conference, the questions in July still likely would have been about LeBron. But I do hope the Heat hold something more formal for Josh before the start of training camp. The reality is the he and Chris Bosh are the only Heat players under contract beyond the 2016 offseason. It's one thing to go lightly with the promoting of Luol Deng, since he can opt out next season, and likely would after a solid season. But McRoberts, on the other hand, appears to be far more of a long-term building block.
August 21, 2014
Q: Ira, I know this is not necessarily a basketball question, but why would Ray Allen consider returning to the Heat with his home invaded? -- Steve.
A: First, you're right, it's not a basketball issue, to have intruders walk into your house. But there also is a larger issue than what level of charges should have been filed: What if Ray Allen's wife, or anyone else in that home, had a firearm? That's what makes this more than a prank, and why those young adults were fortunate that after-the-fact charges were as bad as it got. Forget basketball and whether Ray Allen has even considered returning to the Heat. Instead, here is a player who so embraced the community that he decided to take up residence in South Florida regardless of where his career does or does not take him. No matter what Ray decides, the reality is South Florida made a positive impression on him over the past two years, at least until this incident.
Q: The Heat need to consider looking at Shannon Brown. What do you think? -- Warren.
A: What I think is that the Heat have to wait until the remaining free agents essentially hold a summit amongst themselves and decide who is willing to play for the minimum. Then, the Heat can sift through the best possible remaining options. And there will be options later this month and in September, because there always are.
Q: Hey Ira, I got to see a lot of Jordan Crawford on the Warriors, and there's a clear reason he's not being brought back. He makes so many unforced errors and bad decisions. Why are you so high on him? -- Scott, Los Angeles
A: Because the price might be right, and because there's nothing wrong with having a binge scorer when a binge might be needed. But the Heat also believe they may have found that in Reggie Williams, so we'll have to wait and see. With the luxury tax no longer in play, the Heat can afford to gamble with an extra minimum contract, or two.
August 20, 2014
Q: While LeBron James is out world-touring, the Heat are grinding. I love it. -- Stephen.
A: It certainly was heartening to see Dwyane Wade's Instagram of himself, Udonis Haslem, Mario Chalmers, Norris Cole and Josh McRoberts working out with others at Indiana University. This is a season when Wade will have to carry himself as captain far more than the past four, when LeBron was the acknowledged leader. And having McRoberts there spoke volumes, as well, considering Josh and Chris Bosh are the only players on the Heat roster under guaranteed contract beyond 2015-16. What's needed next is to get Luol Deng and Danny Granger involved in the workout mix, so the Heat can go into camp with continuity. Because they have to have it with an advantageous opening schedule that has nine of their first 15 regular-season games at home.
Q: RIP iso ball. -- Kim.
A: To me, saying you're going to move the ball more is like teams saying they're going to run more. Almost every coach wants his team to run; every coach wants his team to share the ball. Getting players to actually adopt that mantra as a basketball lifestyle is another story. Wade still has a tendency to try to go it alone. Cole sometimes only has eyes on the rim. McRoberts will serve as a facilitator, so that will help. But it's too easy to say the ball will move and the players will run. It's all about actually doing it. Over. And over. And over.
Q: How come no info on the possible signing of Leandro Barbosa? He would be a great addition to the second unit. -- Al.
A: As I've reported, Barbosa is one of several players on the Heat's radar. Like many potential suitors, they want to see how Leandro looks with the Brazilian national team at the World Cup, as well as making sure he stays healthy, which has been an issue in recent years. Based on what the Heat don't have behind Wade in terms of proven depth, I'm not sure he wouldn't set up as the best available backup, even though some view him more as a point. You can play Barbosa alongside Chalmers and just call each a guard. But if Jordan Crawford should come available at the minimum, I still think he would be the preferred option.
August 19, 2014
Q: We need more wing defenders. With Derrick Rose back in Chicago and LeBron James in Cleveland, we need more defense. -- Wade.
A: The irony is that Luol Deng brings that dimension, but, of course, at the cost of losing LeBron. What the Heat could have used last season during the NBA Finals, when LeBron was occupied with Tony Parker, was Deng to help out defensively on the wing. The question becomes who is the second-best wing defender on this roster? At one point, a case could have been made for Dwyane Wade. I'm not sure that case can be made any longer. The Heat need to find that second wing stopper either from within, or else still are one addition short.
Q: Ira, I remember in 2006 when we won the championship by playing good team ball and utilizing everyone on the court. It seems as though the Heat are assembling a group of players to form a team, compared to individual play that we have had during the Big Three era. I appreciate what LeBron James helped us accomplish when he was here. But there were plenty of nights I could have thrown something at the TV when the ball was sticking in his hands or only would go through the Big Three, leaving two guys just standing around. I feel that going back to a "15 strong" mentality would give us a better chance of winning it all again in the near future, as San Antonio showed us this past season that five can beat three any day, all day. Your thoughts? -- Eugene, Lauderdale Lakes.
A: My thoughts are that the Heat would have had exponentially greater championship hopes had LeBron stayed. That's just the NBA reality. Say all you want about the Spurs' approach, but they also were loaded with playoff-level talent. And I'm still not sure you're going to get a five-man game out of this Heat roster, because that would require yet another adjustment from Wade. But what I do agree with is that aesthetically this could become a more attractive, if not quite as spectacular, style. But I'm also curious if "competitive" will be enough for fans who are used to "dominant."
Q: Hey Ira, why do you say that the Heat will win between 43 and 45 this season, when in the '09 and '10 season they won 43 and 47 games with Wade only. Now they also have Chris Bosh. I think they could win up to 50 games. What do you think? -- Mariano, Newport News, Va.
A: To win regular-season games, Dwyane Wade has to play in regular-season games. My estimate was based on the likelihood that Dwyane still will be held out of a certain number of games, particularly as part of back-to-back sets. If Dwyane were to play a full schedule, or something closer to full than last season, then I certainly would up the ante with the prediction.
August 18, 2014
Q: Ira, wouldn't it have been perfect for Pat Riley to steal Shawn Marion away from the Cavaliers? I saw the Heat were interested. -- Brewster.
A: Somehow I think the preference would have been to keep LeBron James from returning to Cleveland, rather than trying to do it with Marion, who now is headed to the Cavaliers. Look, I still think what the Heat need most on the wing is another creative scorer besides Dwyane Wade. There simply is not a lot off-the-dribble on this roster. But there certainly is a need for a wing stopper beyond Luol Deng. Considering Shawn indicated that playing for a championship was a priority, Cleveland had the edge from the start. And if playing time was the goal, Shawn could simply have slid into the Pacers' starting lineup in place of Paul George. Yes, Marion would have helped. But a true center or a wing scorer probably would help more, anyway. Still, Deng and Marion would have been a nice consolation prize from the loss of LeBron. Now the Cavs have their dual stoppers in LeBron and Marion, to a degree more than the Heat had this past season in LeBron and Shane Battier.
Q: If James Jones was complaining about playing time here in Miami, what about now with Marion joining the Cavs? -- Humberto.
A: Exactly what I was thinking Sunday, now stuck behind Shawn Marion and Mike Miller, and potentially behind Ray Allen, as well. In fact, should Ray Allen sign with the Cavs, Jones might find himself inactive more often in Cleveland than he was so designated with the Heat. I think Jones might have been wiser to see how things shook out in Cleveland before heading into the winter tundra. And with Kevin Love, it's not as if the Cavs will be in desperate need of 3-point shooting.
Q: From the recent signings, it appears the Heat management will try to make their next big splash in two years via free agency. In looking at the list of possible free agents, the biggest names seem unlikely to leave their current teams (Kevin Durant, Damon Lillard) and others look to have a new contract by then (Kevin Love). Thus, can a championship team be built with the remaining projected free agents in this class? -- Chris, Parkland.
A: I think what is being overlooked are trade possibilities, as well. As I've repeatedly said, it likely will come down to what Dwyane Wade looks like heading into 2016 free agency. Let's be honest, the current version of Kobe Bryant hardly has been a recruiting magnet for the Lakers.
August 17, 2014
Q: How many wins this season would make you think Erik Spoelstra coached the team to its talent level? -- Joel.
A: There's still too many variables in play, especially this season, and here's why: It could come down to whether the NBA, before this season, adjusts the way the lottery works. In other words, if the lottery system changes and makes it less profitable to tank, it might not be as easy to predict four wins apiece against the 76ers and Magic, and maybe even against Bucks. Suddenly, those teams might actually try to win a game or two. I think this Heat team, with its questions and center and with its limited depth, looks somewhere between 43 and 45 wins. Any higher number will not come down to Spoelstra as much as it would to Dwyane Wade and his availability. The Heat can only push for wins as hard as Wade is able/willing to push.
Q: What took Wade so long to get himself in better shape? Is he all motivated to try to be a top dog to turn a 41-win team into a 45-win team, but was not motivated enough to be the best second option he can be on a championship contender last year? -- Adrian.
A: I think it's more that his knees simply needed the time last season, making 2013-14 somewhat of a transition year for both Dwyane and the Heat. I think 2014-15 will be a barometer of how much Dwyane has left, which is why he likely is positioning himself with the best possible conditioning.
Q: Will Erik have to expand the rotation to limit risk of injury and to expose young players? It would be a mistake if not. -- Gilo.
A: I think this team has to be beyond any sort of maintenance program, has to play every game to win. With this roster, sneaking into homecourt in the first round would be significant, with two spots likely there for the taking beyond the Cavaliers and Bulls. If the Heat plan to push the Wizards and Raptors, then they have to come 82 games strong.
August 16, 2014
Q: Ira, I saw you said they gave Michael Beasley's No. 8 to Shawne Williams. So I guess they're not going to retire Bease's number? (OK, so it means he's not coming back?) -- Henrique.
A: An adjustment still could be made if Beasley is brought back, but that is an increasing longshot. But it's also not as if the Heat are mass producing Shawne Williams jerseys at this stage, either. While Beasley appears to be in the rearview mirror, the Heat still seems to be lacking on the wing, where the current options are Dwyane Wade, Luol Deng, Danny Granger, Reggie Williams, James Ennis and Tyler Johnson. There simply is not a lot of one-on-one creativity there, no one, really, other that Wade who can score off the dribble.
Q: Why would free agents want to play with someone who is not even a top-10 player in the league? -- Aura.
A: The question was in response to how Wade and Chris Bosh have to come through to make the Heat a free-agency destination in 2016. Yet the greater issue is, regardless of where Wade and Bosh stand in the overall player ratings, the notion that the "Heat culture" is enough to sway players. I think that took a blow with LeBron James' departure and it will be interesting to see if the aura of the cult of Pat Riley, Micky Arison and the Heat itself still is a drawing card.
Q: All the motivation Erik Spoelstra needs this season is to win the NBA Finals without LeBron James. James would look pretty silly if Spoelstra won the title without LeBron, proving he was not that essential, after all. That is, Spoelstra and Pat Riley are indeed responsible for the Heat's success, more than any one player. -- Chris, Miami.
A: Yeah, um, no, just as if the Cavaliers win the title, it won't be because of David Blatt. This remains a league where no one is more important than star talent, which is why LeBron essentially controlled free agency. If the Heat go deep in the playoffs, it will be more about what Wade and Bosh contribute than the guidance of Spoelstra and Riley.
August 15, 2014
Q: Pat Riley is slowly killing the Miami Heat. First with the Chris Bosh max salary, then with Birdman's $10 million dollar, two-year year salary and then he signs Udonis Haslem to a two-year $5.6 million dollar deal! WOW! I could have built a better team. -- Bruno, Fort Lauderdale.
A: First, some of that was for bills past due, such as Chris Andersen playing for the below-market minimum the past two seasons, and for Haslem opting out of the final year of his deal to accommodate the Heat's "room" salary-cap exception. The real contract to keep an eye out on is Bosh's. Can he play well enough to attract free agents in 2016, or will his salary weigh down the Heat in the fourth and fifth years of his deal? It is a question without an immediate answer.
Q: I envision this coming season feeling like an interesting group of players that's going to be fun to watch, even if they probably won't win a title. I'm OK with that. I'm looking forward to a cool season. -- Cameron, Draper, Utah.
A: And I think you'll get just that. This won't be Dwyane Wade's team or Chris Bosh's team. This will be Heat by committee, more team ball than in recent years. But this also is the NBA, where individual greatness still means plenty. It will be interesting to see what directions Erik Spoelstra goes in make-or-break moments.
Q: The trade of Kevin Love to the Cavaliers, which makes Cleveland the favorite in the East, brings me back to Love's college draft. Instead of selecting an un-athletic 'tweener in Michael Beasley, Miami could have selected Love or Russell Westbrook or even Brook Lopez. Those mistakes come back to haunt you, like Detroit passing on Carmelo Anthony and Portland passing on Kevin Durant in recent years. -- Tim, Denver.
A: The difference is the Heat have won two titles in the intervening years, while Love, Westbrook and Lopez (and Beasley) remain without titles. No NBA team goes without personnel mistakes. And the sense here is the Heat knew almost from the outset that they could have done better. Pat Riley even spoke immediately after the lottery of the Heat having to look beyond the mere Derrick Rose-Beasley possibilities. He was correct.
August 14, 2014
Q: Ira, I didn't expect the Heat to be on national television as much after LeBron James left, but don't you think that might fuel Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh? Won't Erik Spoelstra be pointing out how outsiders don't think they're good enough? -- Len.
A: First, 16 games combined on ABC, TNT and ESPN still is nearly a quarter of the schedule, with the national percentage to go above that when factoring in NBA TV exposure. But with League Pass and so many dishes out there, players know that those who want to see their games can find them no matter the broadcast outlet. I'm sure Erik will use the underdog card fairly often. But there also is the national-television buzz that will be missing, the atmosphere that also pushes players through the dog days. It will be interesting to see how the Heat's multiple champions react to this new reality. Overexposure was difficult at times these past four years, but I still wonder if some players ultimately won't miss that spotlight.
Q: There are rumors the Pacers are shopping Roy Hibbert. Is there any way Pat Riley can put a package together that would make sense? -- Kevin, Fort Myers.
A: This is getting old by now, but the only players the Heat can put into a trade are Norris Cole, Justin Hamilton and Shabazz Napier, since every veteran free agent signed this offseason cannot be dealt until Dec. 15. So unless you're talking about a player making about $6 million or less, the math doesn't work in a trade. And even then, you would have to find a team willing to take on that three-player package.
Q: Ira, don't you think the question regarding Dwyane Wade seeing better defenders can be solved by better passing and flow in the offense. The Spurs proved it could be done, at our expense. The point is I don't want to see Wade in isolation that frequently. -- Ryan, Parkland.
A: Neither does Erik Spoelstra. As you point out, the best way to avoid double-teams and traps is to keep both the ball and the players moving. Spoelstra has pushed the concept for years. Now the Heat arguably have no other choice.
August 13, 2014
Q: I think the Heat could very well have a better roster with the pieces still available. Michael Beasley is still a great talent. Emeka Okafor, Elton Brand, Ronnie Brewer, Chris Douglas-Roberts, Charlie Villanueva are all players who could make Miami better. -- Bruno, Fort Lauderdale.
A: First, there are cap restrictions and other intangibles that team personal simply know far better. While it can be fun as an outsider to say what a team should do, the reality is that those who make the decisions have far more information available, including how certain players would handle certain situations. That said, there also is the matter of building a cohesive team. I think one of the most difficult facets of recent Heat seasons was having so many players on the roster who thought they merited playing time, when even if they did, there simply were not enough minutes to go around. Just about every name you mentioned is someone trying to revive a career, who likely would crave minutes. The reality is that the roles of players Nos. 10-15 on an NBA roster as just different, specialists who may or may not play at all. It's all part of team building. It's not always about getting the 15 best players. That proved trying in the locker room in recent seasons.
Q: Ira, which new player do you see having a breakout year on this new Heat team? -- Matthew.
A: I know this is not the answer you're looking for, but the breakout years have to come from a pair of incumbents: Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade. Bosh has to show he again can play as a leading man, and Wade has to show he can be an every-night contributor. It is the only way this is going to work this coming season. Yes, Luol Deng, Josh McRoberts and Danny Granger all have to contribute, but the 2014-15 Heat are only going as far as Bosh and Wade take them.
Q: Ira, can you please go through salary cap permutations required to sign Eric Bledsoe in a sign-and-trade, if possible at all? -- Blake, Houston.
A: There aren't any, with players, other than rookies, signed this offseason not eligible to be traded until Dec. 15. So the Heat have only the minimum to offer when it comes to cap space, which is not even a starting point, and if there is to be a sign-and-trade, the Heat don't have the available contracts to cobble together (let alone the enticing personnel) to draw the Suns into a sign-and-trade. The Heat's big offseason moves are done.
August 12, 2014
Q: Good morning, Ira. Does Heat management want Ray Allen back? Are they reaching out to him? He closed on a home during the season, and I got the feeling he liked South Florida. Could he be in a Heat uniform next season? -- Cheryl, Fort Lauderdale.
A: When I spoke to Ray last season about a decision to continue playing, he told me he wished he could wait until September every year for such a confirmation, since that is when he best can tell where his body and his mind stand. So the desire to put off such a decision this year is nothing more than Ray sticking to his plan. But I also sense that the Heat have moved on, based on the fact that there is absolutely nothing left to offer other than the minimum, while Mario Chalmers has been signed at $4 million and Udonis Haslem at $2.7 million. I just don't sense it ended well last season, wonder if Ray (and perhaps LeBron James) wished that Erik Spoelstra had moved Allen into the starting lineup earlier in the NBA Finals, rather than waiting for the fifth and final game against the Spurs. Unlike others who have been wed to specific cities over their careers, Ray has been on the move so much in his career that I believe another city would merely be part of the journey.
Q: How does the Greg Oden incident affect the Miami Heat's image, and does it affect his chances of being picked up again? -- Tyler, Fort Lauderdale.
A: Greg is a free agent and these troubles have nothing to do with South Florida or the Heat. I think Erik Spoelstra tried to put the best face on the situation when he continually praised Greg's comeback last season, but I also sense that there is a belief within the organization that Greg simply is not mobile or agile enough anymore at this level. These latest legal issues likely make him a longshot to land anywhere this offseason.
Q: Sup Ira? I always see you tweeting about the top remaining free agents, but how can the Heat get one of those if we already have 15 guaranteed? I think Pat Riley made some bad moves there. -- Carlos, Dominican Republic.
A: Because the Heat are nowhere near the luxury tax, there is minimal financial risk in carrying more than 15 players in the offseason with guarantees. Remember, Justin Hamilton and James Ennis have only partial guarantees. Even if the Heat wind up with some dead money on their 2014-15 payroll because of additional offseason signings, it still will be far less than what they're actually paying to Mike Miller to have him not play for them (and instead play for the Cavaliers) this season.
August 11, 2014
Q: What does the signing of Shawne Williams say about Udonis Haslem? I think Shawne is more of a power forward than small forward. At the moment, you can't feel too comfortable with what we have on the wing. -- Win.
A: The problem for Udonis is that Erik Spoelstra's system (or at least the systems he has utilized to this point) rely heavily on versatility. But without LeBron James' rebounding, Udonis could be called on more often for that facet. Then again, every year at this time, we hear about Haslem taking his game to the 3-point line. Perhaps this is when those shots actually take flight. To a degree, Haslem is the lone remaining muscle in the Heat's power rotation. The question is whether he can reinvent himself perhaps as Charles Oakley.
Q: It's been 14 years since an NBA champion ranked outside the top 10 in defensive efficiency. The Heat were 11th this past season. Have the Heat corrected their defensive deficiencies and has Cleveland really gotten anywhere near the top 10? -- Jeffrey.
A: Both teams have real questions in that area, although I think Luol Deng will provide a boost defensively on the wing for the Heat. Cleveland certainly has significant questions in that respect, because while Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving do many things very well, defending is not one of them. The key there could be Anderson Varejao being able to keep himself on the court as a full-time rim protector. As for the Heat, if Dwyane Wade and Mario Chalmers are going to be allowed to continue to hunt for steals, the pressure on the front line will continue to be significant. It will be interesting to see if Erik Spoelstra adjusts defensively to a roster that has undergone a significant overhaul.
Q: Both Luol Deng and Danny Granger were ignominiously dumped for salary-cap reasons after staring for their teams. So often players have banner years as they approach free agency in the next season. Will this be a factor in their hoped-for redemption to the Heat's benefit? -- Jack, Sanibel.
A: It's sort of a double-edged sword for the Heat. Both Deng and Granger can opt out after this season, and if they have bounce-back seasons, both are likely to do so. The problem for the Heat is that they want to maintain flexibility for the 2016 offseason, thus the two-year deal for Dwyane Wade. So, to a degree, the Heat need Deng and Granger to be good, not great. Deng has a chance to outperform his contract, because other than his time with the Cavaliers, he has been a solid complementary piece. Granger, by contrast, is a greater unknown. The reality is the Heat need both to produce to have a chance at homecourt in the first round of the playoffs.
August 10, 2014
Q: Do you think that Pat Riley's image, and the Heat "family," and this being a great organization, and South Florida being "the" place to play has been somewhat tarnished by what's gone down over the summer? I think the organization may have taken a hit. I think it may have affected us in free agency this year, and, more importantly, may affect us in the future, like 2016, when we, like many other teams, will have a lot of cap space. -- Matt.
A: What resonates with players, especially free agents, are the available assets that could surround them. So what will matter more than "Heat family" or location is whether Dwyane Wade still will be an All-Star in 2016, whether Chris Bosh will be a franchise player then, whether Luol Deng will stay, whether Shabazz Napier and other young players develop, whether the Heat can mine something out of upcoming drafts. If the Heat can remain competitive in these two intervening years, that also will matter. While LeBron James went back to the lottery-laden Cavaliers, it is doubtful that another top free-agent without such hometown ties would have made a similar move to a team coming off four of the worst seasons in recent NBA history.
Q: I was at the Hall of Fame ceremony Friday night. One theme was how impressed and inspired NBA fans were with Alonzo Mourning's speech. For NBA fans living outside of South Florida and not having much exposure to Zo (in his playing days), they were blown away. -- Stuart.
A: He has grown immensely since he arrived in South Florida. The Heat had plenty to do with that, as did his maturity, his marriage, his family focus. Of all the speeches Friday, his was among the most heartfelt. Between Nolan Richardson's passion, Slick Leonard's humility and Zo's sincerity, it was a special night. There was a time I felt threatened by Alonzo; last week. we spent an enjoyable hour together reflecting.
Q: Ira, after "homecoming" Friday night in Cleveland, it's clear that LeBron doesn't think he's God's gift to the sports world, he thinks he's God. I have never witnessed someone so full of himself. He actually believed that self-serving drivel he was spouting! It was embarrassing to hear. He's lost all self-perspective. Whatever happened to any semblance of humility? He's turning into a caricature of himself . . . a joke, really. This is bordering on disgusting. -- Patrick, Parkland.
A: OK, but tell us how you really feel.
August 9, 2014
Q: I realize what life is like at the minimum, but there are better players than the ones Heat are signing recently, with more NBA experience, players that are also taking the minimum for worse teams. Why isn't Pat Riley targeting these guys in the hopes that he can sign better players to round out the roster? I feel like he is submitting the Heat to mediocrity with zero chance of making it to the Eastern Conference finals. There are still good names out there like Elton Brand, Chris Douglas-Roberts and Jordan Crawford. Is it safe to say that the chances of us landing any of those guys is almost zero with the roster at 16? -- George, Toronto.
A: Not at all. Here's the deal: Last season, and in recent seasons, the Heat were so hard up against the luxury tax that every dollar spent or every player released with guaranteed money became especially costly. Now, by initially operating below the cap this offseason, it would be practically impossible for the Heat to get back into the tax. In other words, there is far greater flexibility to either eat some guaranteed money or add additional veterans at the minimum. There still is time to add the players you mentioned, and almost no reason to back off from such spending if those options become amenable.
Q: This staff certainly has its work cut out with so many new pieces added, and they're young and inexperienced. -- Chet.
A: This will again be a time when the Heat's developmental program will be put to the test. And that's not a bad thing, either, creating the types of contributors or "chips" that could add roster value. There is a reason teams have so many coaches; this is one of those reasons, a roster that features players with room to grow.
Q: Hello Ira, I am very happy for Tim Hardaway getting a coaching opportunity with the Pistons. Yet I am wondering why he never joined the Heat coaching staff. Can you please elaborate on it? Thanks. -- Paul, Miami.
A: When Erik Spoelstra arrived, he essentially inherited the staff Pat Riley had in place. As he developed his own approach, he was afforded greater leeway to bring his own preferences to the staff, including David Fizdale and Dan Craig. The staff simply did not evolve in Hardaway's direction. That said, I credit Stan Van Gundy for turning to players who had been loyal to him, including Hardaway, Malik Allen and Quentin Richardson from Stan's Heat days.
August 8, 2014
Q: So Cleveland gets Kevin Love and we get Reggie Williams? We are done here. Nothing left to see. I guess one Williams, in Shawne Williams, is not enough. -- Julio.
A: This is what life is like at the minimum. The Heat's hope clearly is that they maximized their post-LeBron James salary-cap space with Luol Deng, Josh McRoberts, Mario Chalmers and Danny Granger, and their limited exception space with Udonis Haslem and Chris Andersen. The generosity to Chalmers and Haslem left them with no option but to scour the minimum depths, with hopes that Shawne Williams and Reggie Williams might be able to offer something. There also remains the possibility of putting Norris Cole into play in a trade. The reality is the Cavaliers benefited by lottery picks, while the Heat were going out in the two years before LeBron and actually trying to win games, advancing to the playoffs in each of the two pre-LeBron seasons.
Q: Ira, why can the Cavs pay three max salaries, but if the Heat were going to keep the Big Three together they couldn't do so? -- Joel.
A: The Heat could have and would have. What they didn't have the ability to do was add additional quality pieces while also paying LeBron, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade. Had LeBron been willing to bend, then it was clear the Wade and Bosh would have done so, as well. But once LeBron insisted on the maximum salary, the Heat's model was limited to exception money. Now the question is whether Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving (and even David Blatt) can provide LeBron a playoff payoff with their zero NBA playoff experience.
Q: I bet Ray Allen will decide on Cleveland now. I'm almost sure he was waiting on the Kevin Love deal to be final. -- J.B.
A: You're probably right. The irony is that James Jones therefore won't get to play again as teammate to Ray, LeBron and Mike Miller.
August 7, 2014
Q: Tyler Johnson? Ira, I know you said that gives the Heat 14 players, but Pat Riley can't possibly be finished, can he? Where's our backup center, our point guard, our 3-pointer shooters? -- Nate.
A: First, Riley isn't finished because no one in the NBA is finished during the second week of August. Look at the Knicks, who just made a trade with the Kings. In fact, both of the players acquired by Sacramento -- Jeremy Tyler and Wayne Ellington -- could wind up back on the free-agent market this summer. So there's still plenty of time, and potentially new names to come available. As for the notion that the Heat have to add a center and a point guard, the reality is they already have three point guards under contract in Mario Chalmers, Norris Cole and Shabazz Napier, and have six players in their power rotation when counting Chris Bosh, Josh McRoberts, Chris Andersen, Udonis Haslem, Justin Hamilton and Shawne Williams. And Riley also has mentioned Danny Granger being able to swing to the four, as could Luol Deng. I think the greater concern at the moment is on the wing.
Q: Another season of rebound issues is coming. -- Rafael, Brazil.
A: At the moment, that's difficult to deny. I'm sure Erik Spoelstra will come out strong with the "rebounding as a unit" mantra, but there not only is not a lot of size there, there isn't a lot of muscle, save, perhaps, for Haslem. Beef appears to again be in short supply.
Q: I wonder if a horrible injury like Paul George's will cool enthusiasm for short-term, leverage-creating contracts like LeBron James' new deal. -- Daniel.
A: Interesting point. But this league long has shown a willingness to spend on stars even after serious injuries. Face it, no matter what could happen to LeBron, someone still would be lining up with a maximum contract on the mere hope he could return to form. In fact, there sure seem to be a lot of wink-wink deals in today's NBA, where players help teams in the short term knowing the money will be there in the long term, regardless of age or productivity.
August 6, 2014
Q: Hi Ira, with LeBron James gone, will Pat Riley finally succumb to his roots and go get a decent center? It frustrates me watching the Heat get beaten on the boards by teams with a big center, plus replacing LeBron's 7-8 boards a game won't be easy. Thanks. -- Ken, Australia.
A: Put it this way, the Clippers are looking for a center an reportedly summoned Greg Oden and Andrew Bynum, which tells you how limited the market for centers stand. Heck, the Knicks look like they might be starting Samuel Dalembert. And even the U.S. national team has reached a point where it looks like Mason Plumlee will make the final roster. If a center within their means were available, I'm sure the Heat would have made a move. But would you rather open a game with Greg Stiemsma in the lineup and Josh McRoberts on the bench, or go with your best possible mix?
Q: I just read a Lakers writer's case for signing Michael Beasley. It just makes no sense to let him get away considering his talents. The thought of him reaching even half of his potential elsewhere makes no sense. At least he is a guaranteed offense gun which we definitely need absent the shooters we've lost. -- Dave.
A: I keep thinking back to how Erik Spoelstra consistently referred to Beasley as "one of our own" last season, because of the Heat initially drafting him out of college. Yet at a time when the Heat could use some of what Beasley can offer, it's interesting how Michael again has become an outsider.
Q: Ira, with Norris Cole signing with LeBron's agency, and him being of origin from the state where James' team is run by LeBron, do you see it as likely that Cavs would move Dion Waiters for Cole if they don't acquire a backup point guard in the Kevin Love trade with the Timberwolves? If they acquire Kevin Martin, there is no reason to keep Waiters, unless he is moved otherwise. I think it would be a good move for Miami, as he can play behind Wade and with Wade. -- Jose, Miami Lakes
A: The likelihood is Waiters goes to Minnesota. But, if not, he is the type of player/shooter that this current Heat roster could use (although his trade value is greater than merely Norris Cole). If the Heat knew then what they know now (about LeBron moving on, and having a glut of point guards), I'm not sure if they wouldn't have bypassed Shabazz Napier on draft night for a run at P.J. Hairston.
August 5, 2014
Q: Ira, I know the East is wide open and great games are on our way, but do you think with Kevin Love being added to LeBron James, Kyrie Irving that the Cavaliers would become the biggest force by far in the East? Could Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh compete with this Cavs' team for a trip to the Finals? -- Murilo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
A: First, I'm not so sure I wouldn't take the Bulls over the Cavs, even with Kevin Love in Cleveland, because of what Tom Thibodeau has proven, and what David Blatt has not. While the Cavs are building toward something, the Bulls are almost in make-or-break mode with Derrick Rose coming back and with the short-term purchase of Pau Gasol. As for the Heat, I still think they could stack up against LeBron's Cavaliers only because Love and Kyrie Irving hardly are known for their defense. And that will be an issue in Cleveland.
Q: Paul George's injury is just another reminder of how lucky we were in Miami the last four years. Wishing Paul George a speedy recovery. That is a devastating injury. -- Stuart.
A: Good point. And that's what the NBA is all about, health. For all the concerns about the Heat not developing enough depth in recent seasons, consider how heavily the Pacers relied on their starting five the past two season, and how dramatically different it will be for them this season without George or Lance Stephenson.
Q: When are you guys going to stop writing about players that are no longer with the Heat. Let's move on. -- Jerry, Miami.
A: As long as Heat free agents such as Ray Allen, Michael Beasley and Greg Oden remain unsigned they deserve coverage from a Heat perspective. Each of the three could add an element the current Heat roster lacks.
August 4, 2014
Q: Ira, I've been trying to guess what Pat Riley is planning in regards to the two remaining roster spots, but I haven't been able to. I don't believe we will trade for a shooting guard from the Knicks, but if we going for wings and bigs why not sign Andray Blatche and Toure Murray? -- Jorge, Los Angeles.
A: Look, the back-story issues with Blatche have been well-chronicled, or else the Wizards wouldn't have let him walk in the first place and the Nets wouldn't have been as lukewarm on a return. Just about every time I've seen him play, I've seen a player who can make an NBA contribution. But there also is the issue of the Heat only having the minimum left to pay. Plus if Chris Bosh, Josh McRoberts and Chris Andersen are going to comprise the primary power rotation, there is the issue of minutes. Still, Blatche would make this current Heat roster better, no doubt. As for Murray, the Heat looked at him recently in Las Vegas and did not feel compelled to make an immediate move. The Knicks' shooting guard you mention I assume is Iman Shumpert, and what that situation shows is that plenty can remain fluid before both the start of camp and the start of the season.
Q: Ira, what about our 3-point threat? We don't seem to have one now, just Bosh and Mario Chalmers. Don't we need an addition there? -- Michael.
A: Yes, but such specialists usually can be had later in the process. Plus, McRoberts also will be a factor beyond the arc, and Norris Cole has shown the ability, as well. While 3-point threats help create spacing, what it's most about is an offense that creates high-efficiency looks, something the Heat will try to achieve by creating movement toward the rim. But the 3-point issue also is one where I believe Michael Beasley could still help.
Q: Ira, I'm writing to challenge what has somehow has become the prevailing notion that the Heat are now Bosh's team. As a fan, this strikes me as disrespectful to the greatest player in franchise history, as if we're discussing a transfer of custodianship for him in his old age. As a reporter, I see it as poor journalism (the notion seems to be based only on Bosh's contract and Dwyane Wade's Finals play, after Wade has been the superior player for their entire careers). But, mostly, it makes no sense from a basketball perspective, because the Heat need a primary creator for himself and others, what LeBron James did for the last three years and Wade did for his first eight. Bosh isn't a playmaker. And even if the Heat did design the offense around Bosh, it won't play out that way on the court because if Wade is remotely healthy, he's simply a better player -- Jeff. Middleton, Conn.
A: Using that argument, only perimeter creators could be considered the best players on their teams. I don't agree with that, even in today's wing-oriented NBA. Plus, Bosh has shown a far greater durability and consistency than Dwyane in recent years. But where I think you're getting caught up is the notion that it has to be either/or. But Bosh and Wade have to be at the top of their games for the Heat to contend this season. They have to develop a symbiosis that has not been there during the LeBron years. If Dwyane is not closer to his former self, then there is a good chance Bosh will become overwhelmed. And if Bosh does not command double-teams, then Dwyane is going to have to deal with double- and triple-teams. No, this is not Bosh's team. And it's not Wade's team. It's the Bosh-Wade Heat (with a little help from their friends).
August 3, 2014
Q: First, I want to extend best thoughts and wishes to Paul George and a full recovery from his leg injury. Never like to see any competitor get hurt. Business-wise, does this open the door for a Heat return to the Finals? -- Harold, Wellington.
A: First, what matters most at this stage, of course, is Paul's health. Here was someone playing for his country, going above and beyond. No one deserves what he experienced. It certainly also will give teams pause about their stars competing in the NBA's annual offseason grinders, in what has become more about marketing than patriotism. What has gotten lost in the concerns about the Pacers' standing in the East is that Indiana already had lost Lance Stephenson, forced to replace him on the cheap with Rodney Stuckey. Even before George's injury, Indiana looked like it was going to fall somewhere behind the Bulls, Cavaliers (assuming Kevin Love is in place) and in the pack with the Heat, Wizards and Raptors. Now Indiana could be in a struggle just to make the playoffs, with David West having to do far more at his age than he ever could have imagined. And even with an injured-player exception, it's not as if the Pacers have the wherewithal to make free-agent bid for Eric Bledsoe or Greg Monroe. The irony is that the Pacers certainly could use Danny Granger these days.
Q: Ira, is Shawne Williams better than Michael Beasley? Does Pat Riley know something we don't? If so please tell us. -- Karl, Kapaa, Hawaii
A: Pat Riley always knows something we don't (including what you had for breakfast this morning). And that's the thing, the Heat were well aware of Williams' workouts and how he had attracted interest from numerous teams. As Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders posted on Twitter, "Shawne Williams had been training at IMG Academy with Dan Barto, word was he looks great likely why Miami taking a chance on him." While the Heat share little about their evaluations, they have been looked at myriad players this summer, including a look at Toure Murry while they were involved in summer league in Las Vegas. As for Beasley, I remain for them bringing him back.
Q: Why another forward? The 1-4 spots are full, yet they get Shawne Williams instead of a center that we need. Why haven't Greg Oden or Andray Blatche been pursued? -- Chata, Virginia Gardens.
A: What's interesting is Blatche has been working out in Miami with the Philippines national team, so there has been recent proximity. Whether Blatche would be amenable to the minimum salary is another story.
August 2, 2014
Q: Ira, I like what I heard -- a lot -- from Dwyane Wade about his plans after LeBron James left. He looks in better shape, with a chip on his shoulder. Heat fans still remember what he can do without LeBron. Maybe we haven't see the last of Flash. -- Tom.
A: Actually, Dwyane was quick to caution at his fantasy camp that those days, his do-it-by-himself days, are over. And that's fine, because when Wade was doing it on his own in the immediate years before LeBron arrived, the Heat were nothing more than a one-and-done playoff team when it came to first-round exits. In Chris Bosh, Dwyane has a better supporting star than he had in any of his pre-LeBron days (an argument could be made for Shaquille O'Neal, but his descent was rapid with the Heat). What the Heat need is a Wade with the maturity to play off Bosh (and Josh McRoberts and Luol Deng), as well as a Wade who can be there just about every night for his teammates. His candor Friday was refreshing, as was his perspective of not looking back at the loss of LeBron, but rather at what's ahead.
Q: Ira, am I the only one who thinks the Heat may actually be a better team this year than last? I think the loss of James will lead to increased production from Wade, Mario Chalmers and Bosh. I also think the free agents Pat Riley picked up are likely upgrades over last year's bench. Lastly, I think Erik Spoelstra will have more of an opportunity to coach this year without the burden of keeping James content. I have visions of watching our point guard bring the ball up court to a team where everyone is now an option. I am actually more excited about the coming season than I have been in quite a while. -- Brian, Mount Vernon, Wash.
A: Yes, you are the only one who thinks the Heat will be better with LeBron. Even for the biggest of optimists, that's a stretch. Will they be more interesting? More intriguing? Perhaps. No team loses LeBron James and is better.
Q: How come no one is thanking Birdman for his loyalty? -- Ken.
A: Because I'm not sure there was $10 million over two years out there for him at his age. I think it was the Heat's way of essentially turning his tenure into a four-year, $12 million deal, after he agreed to play at the minimum these past two years, when he likely could have earned more elsewhere. The loyalty was the past two years.
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