Q: Ira, you’re talking about the wrong Warriors forward. Jonathan Kuminga should be the Heat focus, not Andrew Wiggins. – Clary.
A: First, to Clary-afy (sorry), Andrew Wiggins is not a Warriors forward, but rather a former Warriors forward who now is fully under contract to the Heat for this coming season, with a player option in 2026-27. So there’s that. As for Jonathan Kuminga, there is no discernible Heat path to the Warriors’ restricted free agent, considering the Heat’s position closer to their hard cap. As it is, Kuminga’s agent, Aaron Turner, has his own Heat issues, also as the representative for Terry Rozier. In fact, Turner also is the agent for Gabe Madsen, the undrafted 3-point specialist out of Utah State the Heat just added on a camp tryout contract. So, yes, there are fewer than six degrees of separation between the Heat and Jonathan Kuminga, but not enough at the moment when it comes to the salary cap and free agency.
Q: If the Heat are reluctant to pay Tyler Herro, I wouldn’t mind a mutually beneficial move to move him to Golden State for Jonathan Kuminga and a first-round pick. We’ve already traded with them and they don’t appear to be able to resolve their dilemma either. Crazy? – Jim, Mooresville, N.C.
A: If the Warriors don’t want to tie up their cap for Jonathan Kuminga, it is highly unlikely they would for Tyler Herro (let alone the cap gymnastics necessary because of the Warriors’ own hard cap issues). Similarly, if cash is a Heat concern with Tyler Herro, there would be similar concerns in such a trade. That said, loading up with first-round picks is never a bad idea.
Q: Didn’t the Heat learn their lesson after drafting Justise Winslow? You don’t draft a player that you haven’t brought in for a workout and interview. The Heat didn’t bring Kasparas Jakucionis in for a workout and interview. Didn’t bells and whistles go off in the Heat draft room when 19 other teams passed on Jakucionis, who was supposed to be a top-1o selection? – David, Fort Lauderdale.
A: At some point, in any business, you take an implied risk. Justise Winslow was taken with the risk of a No. 10 pick. At No. 20, there is implied risk of not finding a career rotation player. And at some point in the draft, you take the risk in hopes of a value payoff. That payoff still could be there. So the question to your question is whether the Heat feel that Kasparas Jackucionis can achieve more in his career than Justise Winslow. At the moment, I would accept those odds.