Q: Ira, with Adam Silver discussing expansion at the NBA Finals, how would that work. Walk us through how that might set up for the Heat? – Carl.
A: The best approach would be to look back to the last time the league expanded, when Charlotte was added as an expansion franchise in 2004. That year, teams were able to protect up to eight players who either were under contract or poised to be restricted free agents, losing no more than one player. So if that eight-player limit on protection were in place at the moment, the Heat’s protected list likely would include Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Nikola Jovic, Haywood Highsmith, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Pelle Larsson and Andrew Wiggins. That would leave available for selection in this hypothetical: Kyle Anderson, Terry Rozier, Duncan Robinson, Keshad Johnson, Kevin Love and Davion Mitchell. (Alec Burks and two-way players Dru Smith, Josh Christopher and Isaiah Stevens are impending free agents.) The wild card could be protecting Davion Mitchell, an impending restricted free agent. In that case, the approach could be to try to shed Andrew Wiggins’ contract or instead possibly sub in Mitchell on the protected list in place of Highsmith. Bottom line, because of the others on the roster being free agents, there would be limited risk for the Heat in such a current hypothetical.
Q: Ira, every franchise in the NBA makes their head coaches and general managers, etc., accountable. Tell me one thing only please, and don’t give me the runaround. What grade do you give the Heat right now with its current and future draft assets? Also give me a grade to Pat Riley in the last three years. And give me a grade on Erik Spoelstra the last three years Then based on your grades, tell me where we go from here? – Jerry, Miami.
A: Look, the front office took on Terry Rozier’s contract at the cost of dealing away a first-round pick, so at the moment not the best of grades. As for Erik Spoelstra, he got a 10th-place team into the playoffs. Should there be expectations of more from the front office and coaching staff? Sure. But the front office and coaching staff already have higher expectations for themselves. It has been two seasons and one playoff-game victory. That should not sit well with anyone in a league where 16 of 30 teams make the playoffs.
Q: Could you ever see Michael Beasley coming back as that 15th man? You know, that Kevin Love/Udonis Haslem role whose job isn’t so much to play but to keep a positive energy in the locker room going? At the very least, one-on-one he would give our defensive players more of a real challenge in practice. If we strike out this summer and we have to take a gap year, I can’t think of a better move for the fan base. Heck, bring Mario Chalmers, too. – Eddie.
A: That time has come and gone, with Michael Beasley last playing in the NBA in 2019 and now 36. Yes, good enough to beat Lance Stephenson one-on-one over the weekend and good enough to excel in the Big3. So if you want to see Super Cool Bease and Mario Chalmers at Kaseya Center, then buy a Big3 ticket for the tour’s June 29 appearance.