Q: The real questions when it comes to Tyler Herro are what type of contract/extension will he accept, and do the Heat think he’s worth it? Everything else is noise. Given the current CBA, and state of the Heat, how much would you give him, Ira? You have to appreciate all he’s done to improve, but still take into account smallish, offensive-minded guards don’t really take you anywhere in this NBA. – John, Ocala.
A: You know what is noise at the moment: speculation on the amount Tyler Herro would receive on a Heat extension. Right now, he can’t receive anything, with that window not reopening until July 1. Instead, the thought process should be two-fold: 1. Should you just allow his current contract to play out through this season and next season, and then address in free agency what might need to be addressed? 2. Should Feb. 5 NBA trading deadline be considered as an off-ramp, with a decision to be made by then on perhaps moving in another direction? The actual amount is not germane at the moment. But deciding whether there is a long-term future is something that might have to be sorted out over these next two months.
Q: Point guards matter (those NBA Finals runs included Goran Dragic and Kyle Lowry). Centers matter (those two NBA Finals runs saw Bam Adebayo get outmatched and hurt by big Lakers and Nuggets front lines). At what point does the coach make a system around the talent and not the other way around? – Joe.
A: And that’s the thing, without a true point guard (with all due respect to Davion Mitchell) and a true center (at least until Kel’el Ware fills that mandate), you have to get creative, as the Heat have, for years. Even if you count Davion as being as a true point, there is not something similar in reserve. And even if you envision Kel’el as being the Heat’s center of the future, this is not the future. The roster is where it starts.
Q: Very strange roster construction, indeed, that Heat do not have that third power-rotation guy. Unless Vlad Goldin is projected to be that guy by later in the season, got to get a back up big somehow. – Tom.
A: Unless, Kel’el Ware can show a greater degree of consistency, and unless Nikola Jovic can get out of his funk. The options are in place, they’re just not every-day options, at least at the moment. As for Vlad Goldin, I’m not sure there is more there than situational bulk.