ASK IRA: Would a move to more kid stuff be acceptable to Heat and team’s fanbase?
Q: Ira, you were right about the Heat not prioritizing the regular season. Perhaps, last year’s amazing run from the eighth seed in the play-in tournament to making the Finals lulled Heat management and the fan base into thinking that that, yeah, it would be nice to have made it into the top six this year, but it really doesn’t matter because we have Playoff Jimmy and he will just be that X-factor again in this season’s playoffs. The difference this season was that the Celtics used the offseason last year to build a championship team which not only has the best starting five in the NBA but depth, as well. Their investment was much better spent than the all-in expenditures of the Phoenix Suns. Nonetheless, the Heat have a young core that got invaluable experience this season and its limited postseason. The elephant in the room is whether to keep an older Jimmy Butler, now certainly past his prime, or try to maximize whatever value you can for him while you still can. This Heat fan’s vote is to say thank you Jimmy for everything you did for the Heat. Your time with the Heat was a great run but the Heat must now set its sights on adding the necessary depth, which must include a true center and shooters to a championship-caliber team to compete with the Celtics next season. Us fans must continue to put our faith in Heat management to do so. – Michael, North Miami Beach.
A: Put the Heat in that Nos. 4-5 matchup instead of Cleveland or Orlando, which could have been accomplished with just two more regular-season wins, and the Heat arguably still could be playing at the moment. Getting past that, and getting to your other points, remember just because the Heat might want something or might want to get rid of something, there has to be someone on the other side of the equation as a willing partner. The new collective-bargaining agreement is particularly limiting. I, for one, have no issue with taking a step back and enjoying life with the kids. But if you approve of such an approach, then also accept it could be one-and-done in the playoffs next season, as well. Building takes time. Boston has been building and building and building and still has yet to achieve the ultimate goal with this core, with less overall playoff success in recent years than the Heat. Jimmy Butler might not be an ultimate leading man, but he is more than this roster otherwise has in place. So wish for what you might. But also be careful of misguided accompanying expectations.
Q: Did Tyler Herro prove that if he’s not involved in a trade this summer he should be returned to the sixth-man role? He’s basically a streaky scorer whose defense is still a liability. – Tee, Queens.
A: What the Heat do with Terry Rozier will factor into that equation, as well. Because of injuries, we have yet to see whether a backcourt of Terry and Tyler Herro is workable. Both are combo guards on a team that has plenty of trouble getting into offense without a true point guard. Such a decision with Tyler only comes when the Heat are done with their offseason reconfiguration.
Q: Ira, the last time the Lakers signed a free-agent guard away from the Heat, they traded Kendrick Nunn the next season. With Gabe Vincent unable to contribute to the Lakers this season, could he be available for a Heat return? – Michael.
A: Considering the Heat viewed Gabe Vincent’s price point too high in free agency last summer, and considering the Heat have even less financial flexibility this offseason, a reunion would be difficult to create. Further, there remain questions from a health perspective, after knee problems kept Gabe out most of this season. All of that said, an argument could be made that Gabe Vincent, if the same player as when he left, would provide the shooting and defense the Heat this season lacked at point guard.