Q: It’s amazing how the Heat players have been bonding and practicing together before the start of camp. However, isn’t it very concerning that Tim Hardaway Jr. has not been with them? For someone who talked about how it was a lifelong dream to play for the Heat, he has yet to show he really wants to be in Miami. – Nathan, Boca Raton.
A: First, the offseason is players’ time to do as they please, with many dealing with personal matters or rehabbing from injuries. Ultimately, while he was not in California with the Heat’s players, Tim Hardaway Jr. got together this week for dinner with Giannis Antetokounmpo, with ample time between now and the Sept. 29 start of training camp for additional team gatherings. The issue with social media is that when many of these offseason gatherings took place, there previously hardly was the parsing of attendance as there now has become. Attendance can’t and shouldn’t be mandatory. The irony is the same fans who cite a player not being at such a gathering would take issue if a player was injured during such sessions. There used to be a private offseason world of the NBA. Now? Not so much. There will be ample time for bonding prior to the Oct. 21 season opener against the Timberwolves. And the reality is that you don’t have to be close to be winners in the NBA. Plenty of Heat leasing men have gone their own way during offseasons and still led the way. The video of those Heat sessions in California was heartening, but also were parsed a bit much when it comes to actual season impact. With enough wins, nobody will be wondering who was making s’mores together in September.
Q: Should Nick Richards be concerned with the Heat looking at Mo Bamba? – Sid.
A: No, Nick Richard’s driving force should be that his contract does not become guaranteed until opening night. No matter the outside issues, his sole focus has to be showing that if Bam Adebayo or Giannis Antetokounmpo go down that he can step up if or when needed. As for Mo Bamba, there is a reason the media release citing the obtaining of his G League rights noted the move did not necessarily mean he would be joining the Heat on any level. For now, he is under contract with the Jazz, albeit only with a minimal guarantee.
Q: I see a motivated Andrew Wiggins, who I feel came over in the Jimmy Butler trade not fully knowing if he would accept the Heat culture, but now I think he has bought into it 100% and will have an excellent season. He’s still a tough defender, improved his 3-point percentage last year and will average 16 points. – Doug.
A: Again, there arguably will be no bigger swing vote on the Heat roster than Andrew Wiggins. While such a case also could be made with Davion Mitchell, it is Wiggins who has the higher upside to approach All-Star level. If he does that, the Heat likely would be found at the top of the standings.