Q: Ira, I’m old enough to remember when Peter Vecsey was the only source of rumors. And with Woj, there wasn’t much until trades or signings were about to happen. Now everyone’s an insider and they’re going to make it look like the Heat are going to lose out on every name under the sun. Can we just sit out this dance? – Eddie.
A: Of course not. And in Adam Silver’s media-verse, the rumors only heighten interest in his league, allowing him to sell the offseason as well as the regular season and playoffs. It is fascinating to see some who are credited as “insiders” these days, including aggregators aggregating other aggregators (often leading back to the original source who says, “I never said that.”). But to your point, it’s already starting, even with Adrian Wojnarowski on to his next thing, with it likely to be cast as failure if the Heat do not land Giannis Antetokounmpo or Kevin Durant or the next name wildly tossed out there by an “insider.” To their credit, the Heat, when necessary, will, at least through backchannels, shoot down the rumors that are outrageous or ones that can’t possibly happen under the cap or tax or aprons.
Q: With all signs pointing to Boston cutting budget this off season: 1) Should Miami be looking at any players from the Celtics in a trade? 2) Was the Pat Riley, Danny Ainge “beef” inherited by Brad Stevens, thus preventing any trades with the two teams? – T.G., Queens, N.Y.
A: Any Pat Riley-Danny Ainge “beef” largely was limited to crafty, well-time snipes between the two, but nothing that precluded business, if such business was necessary. More so, the teams largely have been rivals for the same players, be it Gordon Hayward or Jrue Holiday. As for potential Celtics selloffs, any such cap-reducing moves likely would be made for draft capital, of which, as has been routinely chronicled, the Heat hold precision little.
Q: If they are able to turn Andrew Wiggins into someone useful and if they make a good draft pick, they will have effectively rebuilt their roster with youth on the fly with the Jimmy Butler trade. Hopefully they come back with a true point guard. Not bad for an out-of-touch management team.– Ron, Columbus, Ohio.
A: If. Or they could be left with no takers for Andrew Wiggins’ contract (of the contract of Kyle Anderson), a middling prospect at No. 20, and wind up losing Davion Mitchell in free agency. The Jimmy Butler trade felt like a house flip from the moment it was made, but will there be a buyer for the Heat to complete the flip? Or will the mortgage bills mount from the Butler deal?