Q: Re-sign Alec Burks. – Dim.
A: Yes, that certainly is a name that could be considered when the Heat decide (if they decide) to use the extra space freed under the tax luxury starting Saturday, toward a pro-rated minimum-scale contract to fill their vacant 15th roster spot. At the moment, it’s Simone Fontecchio or bust when it comes to 3-pointers off the bench. Burks showed last season, he can sit for an entire first half, or even an entire week, and still enter confident with his 3-point stroke. The flip side would be having a 34-year-old potentially taking time of one of the Heat’s developmental players. The reality is he would be taking the time of 30-year-old Fontecchio. Dru Smith, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Pelle Larsson are many things off the bench, but 3-point specialists they are not. Nikola Jovic could be that, but he doesn’t play.
Q: Ira, do you think sending Nikola Jovic to the G League team to give him some quality minutes to play and maybe get his confidence back would be worthwhile for the Heat to consider? – Barry, Deerfield Beach.
A: There certainly is something to be said about playing time and seeing the ball go through the net. The problem is the Heat’s roster construction is so flawed that Nikola Jovic basically is the only safety net behind Bam Adebayo and Kel’el Ware in the power rotation. So while the Heat don’t seem to have a use for him at the moment, they also seemingly cannot afford to be without him.
Q: Ira, it’s a stretch to say that Monday’s game against the Raptors is a must game, but it is really important to stop the bleeding and beat a team that the Heat will be competing against to avoid the play-in. – Joel, Plantation.
A: Agree, but it’s also not must-win. Such is the cushion the Heat built with their early-season success. Still, it would be preferable not to see a four-game losing streak grow to five, or to make it losses in three of the last four home games.