Q: I say take the first third of the season and see what they have. I guess they have that luxury and there really is no rush. – Seth, Weston.
A: Except last season also showed how disruptive a major in-season trade can be, as evidenced by the 10-game losing streak. While injecting additional talent into a roster is never a bad thing, remaking a roster on the fly is incredibly difficult in the middle of a playoff race. And no matter what you might think of this season’s Heat roster, every game likely will matter, just as it did last season.
Q: With Pelle Larsson, Nikola Jovic and Simone Fontecchio playing EuroBasket, why not Kasparas Jakucionis? – Franklin.
A: Just because you are European doesn’t mean you have play EuroBasket, especially when you’re 19. Can’t speak for the Lithuanian program, but you could see where the Heat would prefer Kasparas Jakucionis in their own gym in late August and then September, rather than competing overseas. That’s not to say that the Heat would necessarily have dissuaded. As it is, Lithuania carries a veteran roster in EuroBasket, with Jakucionis to be part of the senior program soon enough.
Q: Can you expand to the uninitiated what Erik Spoelstra’s referring to when he says Kel’el Ware must be more professional? I’m trying to read between the lines and I’m not sure I follow. – Mike, Pembroke Pines.
A: It’s the standard that the Heat insist upon, of going above and beyond. It’s being early, or else you’re late. It’s willingness to participate in pre-practice even when a grueling practice might follow. It’s many of the standards that the Heat insist upon that many players and teams would consider excessive. It is why there long have been divergent opinions in the league about the Heat’s culture. With Kel’el Ware, I think it simply is not having to prod him to go above and beyond. Some are wired that way, some are not. But it’s not only Kel’el Ware. I think that’s also where it went south with Omer Yurtseven.