Q: Simone Fontecchio didn’t look good for Italy against Greece on Thursday. Are we sure he is the shooter the Heat need? – Santos.
A: First, let’s be real here: The reason Simone Fontecchio is on the Heat roster is because he allowed the Heat to realize a savings against the cap and tax in dealing Duncan Robinson. From the start, it was more about the contract than the player. That said, it’s not as if the Heat are exactly oozing shooting, which is why hope was in place that the transaction could also provide a rotation payoff. Now, one game at EuroBasket, even at 1 of 11, missing his first 10 shots, hardly should sway the Heat or Erik Spoelstra. But Simone did acknowledge his shooting struggles last season in Detroit, which is why seeing the ball go through the basket would come as a comfort to all involved. Thursday, in falling to Giannis Antetokounmpo, that happened only once, and that came too late.
Q: Ira, understanding the cap limitations, should Cody Martin be a Heat consideration, with Haywood Highsmith and Caleb Martin gone and limited options to guard small forwards and power forwards? – Fred, Lake Worth.
A: At the moment, the Heat do not have the room to add any player and remain below the luxury tax. The Heat did have such space to sign Cody Martin out of free agency and remain below the tax when they instead opted to re-sign Dru Smith. So, at the moment, there is no space at the luxury-tax inn. That could change at Friday’s buyout deadline, but is unlikely. For now, the Heat will be relying on the defensive chops of Andrew Wiggins to defend elite wings, knowing Bam Adebayo and Davion Mitchell also can be up for such assignments. A team lacking offensively seemingly has greater concerns than another defender, with all due respect to Cody Martin’s overall game.
Q: Fans crack me up thinking an ex-player can somehow transfer a skill. Dozens and dozens of bigs have worked with Hakeem Olajuwon, they don’t become him. These young guys have had top coaches, clinics, studied video and players since age 8. Goran Dragic can’t show Kasparas Jakucionis anything new at all. – Tom.
A: In this case, disagree. For all that skill coaches can provide, the mix of a player who was in the Heat system and plays a somewhat similar style can’t hurt. My point is that the last thing a young player, in this case a 19-year-old, needs is too many voices in his head at once. Nothing wrong with having a mentor. But the practice court also is somewhat sacred ground for the coaching staff.