Q: Would it not be more prudent to send Kasparas Jakucionis to the G League for NBA seasoning and give Terry Rozier his spot to maximize Rozier’s final contract year? If Terry gets hurt or looks really bad again, then bring back Jakucionis, who will have had some NBA minor league playing time. – Rodney.
A: Kasparas Jakucionis assuredly will see action in Sioux Falls at some point this season, with the G League Skyforce. But keep in mind that the Skyforce don’t start their season until Nov. 7. And keep in mind that at the moment the Heat are without sidelined Tyler Herro, Pelle Larsson, Davion Mitchell, Terry Rozier and Kasparas in their backcourt. While the latter four injuries are minor, it still could mean ample preseason repetitions for Kasparas once he gets past his current wrist issue. But even without Kasparas in the mix, the Heat’s wing depth is to the point that it still could make it difficult to carve out minutes for Terry. At some point, though, the Heat will have to decide whether Terry’s streak scoring has a place in the rotation. And that could come down to how long Tyler is out following his ankle surgery.
Q: Ira, whenever I saw Kel’el Ware play last year, it seemed like guys were just blowing past him or muscling him out of the way and scoring on layups. He doesn’t seem very athletic or coordinated. On offense, he seemed to look lost sometimes. Height usually doesn’t make someone a star without some coordination and athleticism. Hopefully it comes to fruition and he plays better. – Rich, Plantation.
A: First, remember that Kel’el just turned 21 in April. But, yes, motor was an issue during his brief tenure at Oregon and seemingly resurfaced as a concern at the start of summer league. Coordination and athleticism are far less of a concern at the moment than aggression. If Kel’el plays with a motor and with force, that should be ample enough to keep him in the rotation and perhaps also the starting lineup. Anything short of that will be met with the same type of rebuke offered by Erik Spoelstra during summer league.
Q: Will the Heat now turn to Norman Powell after Nikola Jovic got his extension? – Franklin.
A: The immediate attention seemingly would turn to Tyler Herro, with his Oct. 20 extension deadline. With Norman Powell, by contrast, an extension can be worked out at any point during the season. That said, it would seem to make the most sense to first gauge the fit. While the Heat aren’t necessarily prioritizing cap space going forward as demonstrated by the Nikola Jovic extension, it still remains essential to judge where any contract will eventually put the Heat against the luxury tax, and perhaps the tax aprons.