Q: A future Miami Heat museum. They listened to you. – Stuart, Miami.
A: If there can be a silver lining to the memorabilia theft regarding the Heat it is that it further opens eyes to the value of some type of team museum or Heat Hall of Honor (eventually to be known as the “Triple H”?). While there obviously are space limitations, with the Heat often citing the tight footprint of the facility in such prime downtown real estate, there is both Parcel B behind the arena that had initially been designated as park space, as well as the space attached to the building that largely has been vacated from its restaurant roots. If last year’s Dwyane Wade’s statue was the first step of commemorating a history worth commemorating, then some type of Heat Hall (the “Double H?”) would seem the next step. As it is, the Heat’s arena is located next to the city’s museum park, so it would seem like a natural fit. For those interested in previous thoughts on the concept, they can be found here.
Q: It’s been fun watching the Heat organization handle their discipline, business and the culture becoming known as Heat Culture throughout the league. But I think this younger generation is looking for less discipline and more freedom, which creates an issue for this current Heat from office. – Douglas.
A: Which is why I believe the entire “Culture” concept needs to become less conspicuous from a public perspective, be it with marketing or promotion. There is nothing wrong with having a touchstone set of internal beliefs when it comes to the organizational view of the right way of doing things. But there also is something to be said about elevating such value beyond the locker room, as was the case with the uniforms and the court in recent years. The approach diluted the meaning and value, making it as much about selling jerseys.
Q: Do the Heat already have a rotation point guard in Dru Smith? He fits well with the Heat and is one of those low-cost good players who are workable. Plus he is one of my favorite players and I think that the Heat might just be holding that 15th spot for him. – Roland, Borrego Springs, Calif.
A: The question now is whether Dru Smith post-Achilles is the same player that he was prior to the tear last December. And with an injury, you often don’t know until you know, which could reduce the reality to more of a make-good type of situation in camp. Dru Smith at his best made this team better. But what is the current best? So, we wait, as the contract and cap math get worked out.