Q: Ira, that’s 20 missed games for Tyler Herro. If I’m the Heat, I’m pulling the plug. No extension. – Sammie.
A: Had to argue, considering we’re talking about a quarter of the season already missed. Yes, unfortunate, both the ankle and now the toe. But as trite and cliche’ as it stands, availability is a tangible ability. Tyler Herro last season showed he could be an everyday player. That has not been the case this season. So now the question is whether the Heat can write an extension next summer that also protects themselves against such missed time. Yes, Tyler only missed five games last season. But the season before he missed 40, and otherwise never missed fewer than 15. Now an extended run could change a lot of thinking. But, for now, 26 games in, the sum total for Tyler this season is six appearances. Does it – can it – work with Norman Powell? At the moment, who knows?
Q: Ira, I understand rumors don’t go away, but it’s always harder during the season. Now everyone is talking about Giannis Antetokounmpo and talking about the Heat. That can’t be good for team morale. Have you noticed anything unusual? – Steve.
A: To this point, there hasn’t been much of a buzz. At times, when the chatter becomes more tangible, a player will ask what’s going on (as multiple players did last season with Jimmy Butler). Typically, the best way to read the room is through social media, of which there has been little posted from the Heat roster to this point. That said, Tyler Herro knows he already has been linked to Giannis Antetokounmpo rumors before, with the entire NBA aware amid the Bucks’ struggles that Giannis can be moved. With the Heat having been rumor central for years, it basically becomes another day at the office. Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Nikola Jovic and others have been mentioned so often in rumors that if such Giannis conjecture takes them off their games, then shame on them.
Q: Looking like a lottery season, Ira. – Kevin.
A: Actually, that might be hard to do, unless there is a commitment to lose in the play-in round. The bottom of the East is so bad, that it is difficult to envision a scenario where the Heat finish below the Wizards, Hornets, Nets, Wizards and either Bulls or Bucks. So that means at least a ticket to the play-in round as no worse than a No. 10 seed. And last season, that led to a playoff berth. Plus, it already appears highly unlikely the Heat can position themselves with any lottery odds of note, considering not only those aforementioned bottom feeders in the East, but also how low the Clippers, Pelicans and Jazz have gone in the West.