Q: Ira, I’ve seen this movie before. All the talk from the Heat; all the moves from everybody else. Trades already are being made. The Heat are on the sidelines. Been there. Seen that. – Sandy.
A: Hmm, just one year ago, the Heat were part of a blockbuster at the trade deadline with Jimmy Butler. Then in July they made arguably the steal of the summer with Norman Powell. And with all the talk about “all the talk,” can’t recall the Heat saying a single thing this cycle about Giannis Antetokounmpo, Ja Morant or even about needing or wanting or planning to make a trade. So others speculate and then the Heat somehow are the ones who get caught in the spin cycle of various insiders of various repute trying to sell Substack subscriptions or generate clicks or views. The reality is the Heat work the phones, consider the possibilities as much as anyone. But as one Heat official said in a candid moment, “you have to find a partner.” And not everyone wants to partner with everyone else. If you disagree, just go ask Joe Cronin.
Q: Ira, so with a trade the team will be Bam Adebayo, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jovic and a bunch of G Leaguers or castoffs. Those draft picks will be even more valuable. We had trouble winning when we had the Big Three. – Rich Plantation.
A: No, if speculation is correct, the starting lineup still could be Bam, Giannis, Norman Powell, Davion Mitchell and Pelle Larsson, with Dru Smith, Simone Fontecchio and Nikola Jovic off the bench. You could easily, even on the buyout market, fill out from there. That’s if.
Q: Why would the Heat schedule a distraction like celebrating an old championship right before the trade deadline? Shouldn’t they be using the time instead to work the phones to pull off a much-needed blockbuster trade? – Joe, Pembroke Pines.
A: A team should be able to do both, but the timing of the celebration of the 2006 title was not optimal, especially with the team charity gala on Monday night after four games in five nights, then with another game on Tuesday. When Monday’s event was scheduled, it was before the Heat schedule got compacted by the Jan. 8 postponement in Chicago. Still, it all was a bit much, and it looked that way on Tuesday night against the Hawks. Next up? What the toll of deadline week will take in Friday night’s visit to Boston.