Q: Two years from now, salary inflation will show that Nikola Jovic’s contract is average for good rotation players. Also, that it could prove helpful in salary matching, if or when a true impact player at a much higher salary is shopped around by another team. Also, as in Denver’s case with Christian Braun, Jovic’s contract was signed in light of the Heat losing Gabe Vincent, Max Strus and Caleb Martin to free agency, all key players in the run to the 2023 Finals. The Heat are probably this season, finally fully recovering from the loss of those players. Caleb Martin is an excellent example of what a delicate, difficult fine line it is, that every NBA franchise has to walk between paying too much or offering too little, to keep valued players. The Heat probably dodged a bullet when another team signed Martin, and avoided paying Martin that huge contract he was offered by the Heat. – Morgan, New Orleans.
A: What is interesting is that when you look at the Heat’s payroll this season, there are probably only two players that are debated as “overpaid.” One is the ongoing debate about Nikola Jovic and the $16.2 million he will receive this season as the Heat’s fourth-highest-paid player, with the other being Bam Adebayo and the $49.5 million he will earn. Andrew Wiggins ($30.2 million) gets a pass with his championship pedigree and in the knowledge of the haircut he willingly accepted for the following two seasons (at $16.5 million in 2027-28, and a $17.3 player option for 2028-29). For Nikola and this mid-level salary, the mandate is rather basic – be a rotation player. For Bam, it is be an All-Star. If both of those happen, then the Heat’s payroll questions vanish, with instead an appreciation of so much value elsewhere on the roster.
Q: Ira, you had spoken about Heat patience this summer. Do you think they regretted not waiting on Cam Whitmore? – Sanders.
A: Considering Cam Whitmore has not shot or scored on the NBA level as he did in college, I doubt it. On one hand, he is a 22-year-old with potential upside. On the other hand, this is a win-now moment for the Heat, and that means going with the NBA-tested shooting of Klay Thompson, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Simone Fontecchio. The irony is there was consternation from Heat fans about going for Jaime Jaquez Jr. over Cam in the 2023 NBA draft. The Heat not only wound up with the better player, but also a key trade cup in the Giannis Antetokounmpo deal. Cam, by contrast, is about to be headed to his fourth NBA franchise.
Q: Going overboard with the 3-pointers has proven time and time to not win unless you have a Stephen Curry on your roster. Many teams shoot 3s, and despite what Charles Barkley says about jump-shooting teams, most NBA champs from ’79 onwards were “jump-shooting teams.” The difference is an inside-out approach, not outside-in. Only the Warriors have won with an outside-in approach. – L.H.
A: And inside-out it will be for the Heat, with Giannis Antetokounmpo initiating and perhaps Davion Mitchell, with his drives, as well. Even with Bam Adebayo’s dribble-handoffs, it will be a 3-point attack built around the inside threat.