Q: Ira, we’ve got the Clippers twice at the start of the season. I say suspend Kawhi Leonard until the league makes its ruling. – Sam.
A: To be fair, this was followed by a smiley emoji. And, yes, the Heat do play at the Clippers on Nov. 3, with the two-game season series concluding on Dec. 1 at Kaseya Center. If anything, the NBA’s forensic investigation likely will last well beyond such a time frame. Plus, any action against Kawhi Leonard, which is widely not expected, almost certainly would be followed by a lengthy, adjudication-delaying appeal by the players’ union. If the Heat are looking for motivation against the Clippers, it likely will center on Norman Powell facing the team that gave up on him in favor of Bradley Beal and John Collins.
Q: What do you think all these rumors are doing to players as they prepare? – Mitch.
A: After last season with Jimmy Butler, including all the drama about his delayed appearance at media day, the current speculation almost feels benign. Last year at this time, the drama was with the leading man. A year later, it’s almost as if the majority of the discourse is whether a 15th man will be added.
Q: Andrew Wiggins is not and shouldn’t be in the foundational pieces for this next championship run. Not over Nikola Jovic. If that’s debatable, it means we’re confused on our direction. – Swann.
A: Except one is a proven NBA commodity who has won a championship, the other is still in his formative NBA years. Believe me, the Heat would love nothing more than for Nikola Jovic to make Andrew Wiggins expendable, considering the ages and salaries. But that means Nikola doing it for a sustained period on this level. So the real debate is whether he has earned equal time with Andrew to even allow for such debate.