Q: Ira, it is unclear to me why Kel’el Ware left summer league. – Harvey.
A: It shouldn’t be. Typically, draft picks with previous NBA experience play only part of summer league. When it comes to summer league, the priority often is the training camp that precedes the games and the practices between games. Think of it as college football teams accepting bids to minor bowl games in order to get extra practice time for their players. This is sort of the same. What mattered most to the Heat was having Kel’el Ware, Pelle Larsson and Keshad Johnson working with the coaching staff for two weeks in a structured environment. To use another football analogy, sort of like the NBA’s version of spring football. In many ways, for veterans, the games at summer league are the least important element of the process. And Kel’el will be back on the Heat’s practice court soon enough, with the Heat staffing their practice court at Kaseya Center year round.
Q: The only loser with the Damian Lillard situation was the Bucks. – Green.
A: Hard to disagree, since the Trail Blazers got assets for Damian Lillard two years ago, and now Lillard is back two years later. As for the Heat, Lillard’s Achilles tear would have been devastating to the cap, tax and aprons (although a solid 2023-24 from Lillard might have placated Jimmy Butler and perhaps avoided last season’s contretemps. By stretching Lillard’s waived salary, the Bucks showed their desperation to placate Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Q: After reading your fantastic article on Keith Askins, I was reminded of a recent mailbag question from George Richards’ Florida Hockey Now where he said it is probably too late to hang the players jerseys of John Vanbiesbrouck, Olli Jokinen, etc., from the rafters, but would make sense to have them in a Ring of Honor. Would the Heat consider a “Ring of Culture” for the Askins, Grant Longs, Duncan Robinsons, and others that embodied what it means to be a Heat? – John, Hoover, Ala.
A: I have lobbied for years for a Heat Hall of Fame at Kaseya Center, as a means of honoring those who have stood as a foundation for the franchise, albeit at a level below number retirement. For a team so consumed with culture, it is somewhat surprising how little attention is paid to the team’s formative years.