Q: Ira, what’s going on in the East. Everyone is good. The Bulls beat Denver. Philadelphia won without Joel Embiid against the Clippers. Toronto’s on a roll. It looks like the Heat are going to have to be pretty good to avoid the play-in. – Dennis.
A: But it’s also still early. Look at the Heat, for example, if Kawhi Leonard or Karl-Anthony Towns make one more shot in each of those Heat wins, the Heat instead today are 6-8. The difference is the Heat have now gone almost two weeks without Bam Adebayo and the entire season without Tyler Herro. What will define the Heat going forward is how much better both make the Heat. Based on pedigree, the Heat should be better with both. Yes, it will lead to cold, hard decisions by Erik Spoelstra. But hey, that’s why they pay him the big bucks.
Q: Ira, I hope the Heat have learned their lessons with old, injured players, now that Anthony Davis might get moved. Between Davis, Paul George and Kawhi Leonard, once injured, always injured. – Sandi.
A: A reasonable, cautionary thought. The other side of the equation is what the potential level of trade discount might be because of the injury history, when also considering the remaining contract. In that regard, you can see why Paul George would be considered trade toxic, even as he now has returned to action. With Davis, age certainly is a factor as are the two remaining seasons on his contract beyond this season, at a sobering $58.5 million and then $62.8 million as a 2027-28 player option. But it’s also not only about age when it comes to the chronically sidelined. In that regard, Ja Morant, again sidelined, has to be viewed as a trade risk, as well, for an acquiring team, even at 26.
Q: Let’s remember that Kasparas Jakucionis turned 19 in May. – Dre.
A: Which is why the uneven performance of the Heat first-round pick in his G League debut should not be overstated, even with the six turnovers. What Kasparas Jakucionis needs more than anything at the moment, as Erik Spoelstra said Monday night, is playing time, even if it is with the Sioux Falls Skyforce. Better he plays through the mistakes and growing pains there.