Q: We need a center – Scot.
A: Agree. While Kel’el Ware and Bam Adebayo are a decent place to start, we already know that Nikola Jovic prefers to be cast as more of a wing and that Vlad Goldin’s lack of agility will prove limiting on his two-way contract. In a game that Bam or Kel’el are unavailable, injured, or in foul trouble, the options would be limited. Look at the Magic, for example. While they already have Wendell Carter Jr., Moe Wagner and Goga Bitadze, they added former Heat center Orlando Robinson on a two-way contract, as insurance for Wagner’s recovery from the ACL tear sustained last season against the Heat. The Heat do have an available spot on the standard roster, but also are over the luxury tax. The compromise could be another center on a two-way deal, even with Goldin in place as a developmental project.
Q: Keshad Johnson is going to get waived eventually. I think he is going to get significantly outplayed. – Mare.
A: I do agree that Keshad Johnson needs to show more than he showed in summer league or last season. And, as stated here before, it was surprising the Heat moved as swiftly as they did to guarantee his standard roster spot for the coming season. His open-court game certainly can entice. But if the priority is building a playoff-quality roster, the halfcourt game has yet to be seen at this point. That said, based on where the Heat stand against the tax, they are in no position at the moment to move away from a guaranteed contract that is minimum and still could pay dividends.
Q: The Heat need a Russell Westbrook in the locker room. We’re just missing the vocal guy that’s hungry like Jimmy Butler. Westbrook could change that. – Tyler.
A: The Heat are not at a point where they can afford to chase “hunger,” whatever that might be. If Pat Riley, Erik Spoelstra and Bam Adebayo can’t foment hunger, then the issue is beyond the roster. As it is, the Heat already are overloaded in the backcourt and you could make a case that if a Russell Westbrook was added, playing time would be an issue, anyway. Enough with the guards. There are more pressing needs.