Q: As bad as Terry Rozier was last year, and he was bad, he’s still better than any guard on the team other than Tyler Herro, Davion Mitchell and Norman Powell. As a matter of fact when you are 10th in the East, nobody was that great. Rozier deserves another chance just as Jaime Jaquez Jr., Nikola Jovic and others in camp. – Douglas.
A: Here’s the deal, I’m not sure that Tyler Herro missing the first 14 games of the season following ankle surgery is going to dramatically impact Heat thinking on the rotation. I believe that would be shortsighted, considering the regular season runs for 82 games. And the difference between “another chance” for Terry Rozier versus allowing for growth from Jaime Jaquez Jr. or Nikola Jovic is that Jaime is 24, Nikola is 22 and Terry is 31. Plus, the Heat have contract control on Jaime and Nikola because of the rookie scale, where Terry is in the final year of his contract. Yes, Terry has the better career resume, but he also is coming off a season worse than those you cite for comparison. And that doesn’t even get into Pelle Larsson. All of that said, it will be fascinating to see the approach Erik Spoelstra takes with Terry during camp and the preseason. Will there be an opportunity to compete for playing time? Or has that die already been cast?
Q: Ira, even before the Tyler Herro injury the first 15 or so games looked bleak with the Heat probably only favored in two or three games. Herro’s injury might just give Erik Spoelstra an opportunity to see what he has in his young players and maybe if Terry Rozier has anything left. If Herro had to miss games, this is probably the best time for it to happen. – Joel, Fort Lauderdale.
A: If there is a Heat move toward more development, it will happen organically and as a product of the record at the time. There is no way the Heat are going to exit camp believing anything other than full steam ahead when it comes to fielding the rotation that puts the team in the best position to win, regardless of age, contracts or developmental potential. That said, Erik Spoelstra almost annually has reconfigured his rotation early in the season. But, again, that has been done in response to results (or lack thereof), not because of acceptance of impending struggles. Yes, of the Heat’s first eight games, I would expect them to be favored in only one (Oct. 28 at home vs. Charlotte). Otherwise underdog at Orlando, at Memphis, vs. Knicks, at Spurs, at Lakers, at Clippers and at Nuggets – which they would have been even with a healthy Tyler Herro. In fact, if the Heat can’t beat the Hornets, the only other game through the first 15 would be Nov. 8 at home against Portland.
Q: The Heat say Tyler Herro is expected to miss eight weeks . . . which means 12 weeks. – Ryan.
A: And you just might be correct, since this very much is an inexact science. But there will be plenty of testing along the way to make sure Tyler Herro is ready. Remember, even without an extension, Tyler is under contract to the Heat for two more seasons. So an investment already is in place.