Q: Ira, please tell me we’re not going with DeMar DeRozan, a 36-year-old who does not shoot threes? We do better. – Al.

A: First, some perspective. If the Heat do make a move for DeMar DeRozan after his buyout from the Kings, it will be for the veteran minimum, a hit of only (relatively NBA speaking) $2.5 million against the cap/tax/apron. Sometimes, you get what you pay for. And the reality is that he at least would present some type of shot creation in a Heat wing rotation currently lacking. But, yes, there could be a wait for something more. In fact, of the Kings mentioned in buyout candidates speculation, a preference list from the Heat probably would go in the order of: 1. Zach LaVine, 2. Malik Monk, 3. DerMar DeRozan. But at the moment we don’t know about what will come next with LaVine or Monk. Besides, Heat history over the years has been to circle back to Heat killers. So there’s that.

Q: Where is the multi-level scoring gonna come from? Even if it’s not elite scoring, it needs to be consistent. Spacing is a major issue if they don’t add a guard. – Luisa.

A: There is no denying that work still remains to be done (and with no games until October, there will be plenty of time to get work done). Because, right now, say the score is tied after an opponent basket, five seconds remain, the Heat have no timeouts, have to go full court from the opposite baseline – who is the shot creator? Giannis Antetokounmpo dribbling into a jumper? Bam Adebayo in transition? A head-down vault into the paint by Pelle Larsson? Shot creation simply isn’t there at the moment, with all due respect to Tim Hardaway Jr., Andrew Wiggins, Davion Mitchell and others.

Q: Bobby Portis wearing No. 95? – Steve.

A: Well, he was born in 1995. It makes him the first player to wear No. 95 in the Heat’s 39 seasons. The only other player to wear a number in the 90s for the Heat was Jae Crowder’s No. 99. In all, the Heat now have had five players wearing numbers higher than the five-time issued No. 55: Nemanja Bjelica with No. 70, Omer Yurtseven with No. 77, Patty Mills with No. 88, Portis at No. 95 and Crowder at No. 99.