Q: Ira, here is your responsibility: No matter what Giannis Antetokounmpo does or the Bucks say, do not start writing again about how the Heat can get him. Imagine how all our young players feel hearing their names over and over as they try to play for Erik Spoelstra. – Thomas.
A: And yet it’s hard to ignore when an elite player again is at odds with his team (this time over potentially sitting out the balance of the season against his wishes), and when said player was at the heart of very real trade deliberations at February’s trade deadline. Now, whether one believes the Heat had enough to make an offer before or would have enough now is another story. As far as Heat players such as Kel’el Ware, Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis or others on the roster being put through the rumor mill amid the playoff race, put on your big-boy pants and do your job. The reality is that with Norman Powell an impending free agent, and with Andrew Wiggins the same (if he bypasses his player option), the Heat will have less salary flexibility after the season in a Giannis Antetokounmpo package than in February. And as far as the possibility of the Heat having four first-round picks to deal come June (including one in June that would be used to make a selection for another team), that is illusory, since the fourth of those picks would have to be conditional and no one is taking a conditional pick when they instead could get the real thing. Still, if Giannis potentially could be on the move, then the Heat will listen and the talk will resume, for the umpteenth time. Deal with it. Of course, when is the last time a superstar player said, “I really hope to land with a play-in team”? Just saying.
Q: Tyler Herro and Norman Powell are both subpar defenders and having them both on the floor makes scoring too easy for the other team. Powell’s not been good enough lately to overcome that and seems more prone to forcing bad shots when Herro is playing. – Nathan.
A: As noted, it has not worked with Tyler Herro and Norman Powell. Now, defensively, Bam Adebayo can help mitigate some of the issues on that end, which is why he was so noticeable in his absence in Charlotte. As for Norm, it’s almost as if he has been beaten down by having to carry the team over the first half of the season in Tyler Herro’s absence. And he did carry the team over that span, which makes much of the latest criticism feel a bit over the top.
Q: The only real center on this roster came up small and soft in Charlotte. Love the potential of Kel’el Ware, but it’s OK to admit that. – K.B.
A: It’s almost as if Kel’el Ware wasn’t there on Tuesday night, as if he was back in Oregon and Indiana, needing someone to light a fire. It was as listless of an effort from Kel’el as can be recalled. For all that Erik Spoelstra talks about the motivational value of his assistant coaches, someone needed to light a fire before it all fell apart.