Q: Ira, the Knicks seem to be doing a better and smarter job than Pat Riley. The Heat signed Dru Smith and Keshad Johnson to fully guaranteed contracts while the Knicks signed Malcom Brogdon and Landry Shamet, who are clearly much better, to non-guaranteed contracts. My guess is that Smith and Johnson would have taken the non-guaranteed contracts, since I doubt if teams were lining up to sign them. This would have given the Heat the flexibility to sign someone else if needed. – Joel, Fort Lauderdale.
A: First, the Heat believed that another team would have claimed Keshad Johnson if he was waived. So there’s that. Plus, the thought is that if Dru Smith can return to anything similar to what he was last season before tearing his Achilles, he could be the ultimate value player, considering the second season of his three-year deal is non-guaranteed and the third is a team option. Further, based on where the Heat stand at the moment, would you want Malcom Brogdon and/or Landry Shamet to be taking playing time from Tyler Herro, Pelle Larsson, Nikola Jovic, Kasparas Jakucionis or even Jaime Jaquez Jr., when it comes to the Heat’s developmental pipeline? The Knicks are in win-now mode, in what they view as championship contention. The Heat are in a different place.
Q: What about Shane Larkin? – Sandy.
A: What about him? As he prepares for Sunday’s championship game as a member of Turkey’s national team, the former University of Miami guard said he has found his basketball comfort zone as a leading man in Turkey. While there is NBA talent there, at 32, Shane has found his comfort zone playing as a superstar with Turkey’s  Anadolu Efes, as opposed to resuming NBA life as a journeyman.
Q: For me, we’re in loads better shape than with Jimmy Butler messing up the team chemistry. – Ron, Columbus, Ohio.
A: We shall see. There certainly will be a different tenor at the start of training camp, especially considering that drama a year ago with Jimmy Butler. But the Heat also spent plenty of time at the close of last season rationalizing the shaky finish because of having dealt with the Butler drama. So now no Butler, no excuses.