Q: Ira, the Dolphins already are showing that depth matters. So if the Heat even think they don’t have enough centers, they should go ahead and sign one. Better, now than before Bam Adebayo or Kel’el Ware get hurt. – Steven.
A: First, the reality is that if Bam Adebayo were to be lost for any significant period, the season would likely move further toward development, and closer to a potential lottery outcome. There is not a center on the market who could step into such a role. An absence by Kel’el Ware could have somewhat of a similar impact, though to a lesser degree. The case for insurance in the middle is in support of an all-out push for the playoffs. But this also is not the NFL or the Dolphins, where injuries are a weekly occurrence and results in injuries lasting for weeks, not days. The reality is the quality of “emergency” big men currently available likely will remain similar and fluid throughout the season. So any notion of having to rush into a decision largely is overstated, whether the current goal is Precious Achiuwa, Thomas Bryant, Kai Jones or another available big man. None are likely to change the overall calculus of whether the Heat stand or are headed.
Q: Precious Achiuwa is a useful player. He didn’t get much time on the Knicks but he rebounds and defends. – Grady.
A: But how useful would someone be when cast in a role behind Bam Adebayo, Kel’el Ware and Nikola Jovic? The thought here remains that almost all of Nikola’s minutes will have to come in the power rotation, because of the Heat’s surfeit of players in the perimeter rotation. So a case could be made, at least in the moment, that Vlad Goldin and his 50 games of eligibility could cover such an emergency-only need. So, as stated above, it comes down to whether the belief in any big man added comes with a belief that such a player also would command playing time.
Q: The Heat should roll the dice and keep Terry Rozier, buyout or not. – Sanket.
A: I agree, but more about the contract than the player. The Heat rotation seemingly has moved beyond Terry Rozier, simply because Norman Powell was acquired to be the next Terry Rozier, plus there is ample youth to be tested in the perimeter rotation. But matching salary for a trade also could come into play, and if Terry is waived or engineers a buyout, then such salary ballast would be lost. Even if as a payroll entry, there somewhat remains value with Terry.