Q: Hi, Ira. Do you think the Heat feel any pressure to accelerate their build after watching the Panthers win back-to-back titles while the Heat are stuck in mediocrity? – Jeffrey, Miami.
A: The teams have such distinctly different fan bases, as evidenced by all the dates that the teams play simultaneously, that I do not believe that is a factor. Winning tends to be cyclical, with an appreciation that the ups and downs typically have teams on different trajectories. This is the Panthers’ time, as the Heat build back up toward their own time, with the Jimmy Butler trade the first domino to reset the franchise. So, for now, it’s likely championship hopes on ice for the Heat, while the Panthers rule the ice. To their credit, the Heat have been gracious in their credit to the Panthers.
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Q: Let’s say the Heat do manage to land Kevin Durant but they have to give up Andrew Wiggins, a first-round pick and Kel’el Ware. Are they better off? Can they beat the top four teams in the East? And how does that work for the future? I would love to see what Ware looks like his sophomore year in the league. – Douglas.
A: The gains would be short-term, but also would be tangible. But the question of whether it could move the Heat into the top four comes down to the rest of the East, to whether Cleveland sustains, Indiana feeds off the finals, New York finds the right coach and Orlando coalesces with Desmond Bane. So, yes there is long-term risk, which always is the concern with some of the Heat’s methods. But unless you are fully sold on Andrew Wiggins, can you afford not to trade in the uncertainty of Kel’el Ware for the given of Kevin Durant? That’s at least 10 more points per game for an offense that clearly needs 10 more points per game.
Q: Are dynasties in the NBA still possible? Don’t think so. Look at Boston and Denver. Between ever-increasing payrolls and injuries, don’t you have to live in the moment? So for all the naysayers that are worried that Kevin Durant is too old, wouldn’t you take one championship with him on board just as we did with Shaquille O’Neal? – Bob, Davie.
A: As stated above, whether I would or wouldn’t doesn’t matter. What matters is that is who the Heat are, a team that lives in the present instead of living in the lottery. But there also have to be limits, even as there were in the Shaquille O’Neal trade. From this perspective, that means limiting the amount of draft capital going out. Anything beyond this month’s No. 20 should at least create pause.