Q: Ira, please hand me the mic so I can address Heat Nation: Don’t go after Kevin Durant again. Thank you. – Wallace.
A: Which, assuredly, will again become a talking point, considering Kevin Durant’s absence as the Rockets fell in the opening round to the Lakers. For now, the need to know is that Durant has one year remaining on his contract, as a player option for $46.1 million for next season. One one hand, the playoff absence won’t help any leverage. On the other, even as he is about to turn 38 in September, he did appear in 78 regular-season games this past season (finishing No. 2 in the league in total minutes), so it’s not as if the injury concerns were in any way chronic. But, yes, after those countless Heat pursuits over the years, be it when Durant was with the Thunder, Warriors, Nets or Suns, this might be the point where another direction would be the preferable approach. In theory, taking on Durant in the final season of his contract would not impact the Heat’s potential 2027 cap space. On the other hand, exactly how many assets should a team send out for what would be a potential one-year rental?
Q: Hey Ira, sorry if this has already been covered, but my question regarding the Terry Rozier trade is this: How do the rest of the league owners feel about the Charlotte Hornets holding back information in a trade? Did Pat Riley or the NBA Commissioner address this? It seems there should be penalties applied to the Hornets for not being 100% transparent in the transaction and more tangible benefits for the Miami Heat. Or is this commonplace in NBA transactions? Perhaps the rest of the league owners are now wary about dealing with the Hornets. – David, Venice.
A: Considering the competitive realm of pro sports, teams constantly are seeking advantages. So if it benefits another team, another team probably would privately acknowledge it would do the same. Therefore, no league-wide outcry. And the Hornets were penalized with the loss of a second-round pick that was sent to the Heat, with teams spending in the millions to purchase such picks during drafts. Whether it was punishment enough is in the eye of the beholder, considering the Heat did get 1 1/2 seasons out of Terry Rozier. As for being wary of dealing with the Hornets, teams will do what they believe is in their best interest, regardless of the trade partner, with the exception of possibly not wanting to benefit an opponent in direct competition in the playoff race.
Q: With the additional charges which have been tacked on against Terry Rozier, the clear inadequacy of the league investigation, and the damage done to the Heat, is a second-round pick etched in stone? Is there a pending appeal of the league decision? As this was an unprecedented case in which league officials participated in the deception, the remedy is woefully inadequate. – Jay, Weston.
A: Done. No appeal, as Pat Riley confirmed at his Monday media session. Essentially, case-closed from the NBA, even as it remains ongoing in the federal courts. The only element likely still in play is the potential ability for the Heat to claw back some or all of Terry’s 2025-26 salary, a factor that would not have an impact on the payroll, salary cap or luxury tax going forward.