Q: Ira, Fred VanVleet had a team option of $44.9 million just for next season, but instead took two years for $50 million total to give them cap space. Why can’t the Heat get their players to do that? – Orlando.
A: First, it was a team option for Fred VanVleet that everyone, including Fred, knew was not going to be picked up. Beyond that, there wasn’t even $25 million in cap space (outside of Brooklyn) for Fred to chase this summer, so the compromise worked for all involved. And it wasn’t cap space that was created for the Rockets, but rather room under the tax and aprons. As for the Heat, yes, the belief here remains that just because there is a max figure for a Tyler Herro extension doesn’t mean that has to be the offer, just as it appears the Heat might have gone too far with the extension to Bam Adebayo. In fact, it will be very interesting to see where the Heat draw a line with Nikola Jovic’s extension eligibility when that window opens next month.
Q: Ira, one of the problems with the Heat is falling in love with their own players (you mentioned Tyler Johnson in one of your recent responses). It does not look that way with Andrew Wiggins. I wonder if they told Erik Spoelstra that he would only be a rental and that’s why he wasn’t featured. – Thomas.
A: I’m not sure I would go that far, but the warmest embrace of Andrew Wiggins after his trade seemingly came from Warriors coach Steve Kerr when Golden State visited. At the time of the Jimmy Butler trade and since the Jimmy Butler trade, it has felt as if Andrew Wiggins was more of a ledger line than a lineup connector. So now, amid the latest personnel speculation, it would not surprise if Andrew is moved on five months later. I still can’t recall a definitive comment from the Heat regarding Andrew being a part of what might come next.
Q: How about giving the two-way to someone new, not someone who’s made barely any progress in four years? – H.L.
A: First, the Heat did not give a two-way contract to Dru Smith with Tuesday’s moves, but rather a qualifying offer to match outside offers for a two-way. And “barely made any progress” could not be any further from the truth based on the way he was playing when he tore his Achilles in December. That is when he was on the verge of a standard deal. If sufficiently recovered, he again would be a bargain on a two-way deal.