Q: Your article comparing the current situation to the 2004-05 Heat roster was spot on. Pat Riley is 4 for 4 building rosters that were truly competitive for Eastern Conference finals and NBA Finals appearances, after acquiring players who highly impacted winning. But it usually took one more offseason to really round out the rosters. – Morgan, New Orleans.
A: Which might well again be the case. But keep in mind, the Heat have room for as many as three buyout players while still remaining below their hard cap. So there could be more to come – and more who would want to come. While the Heat came up short during Shaquille O’Neal’s first season in 2004-05, it wasn’t because of the lack of regular-season performance (59-23, five games clear of the field atop the East) or playoff success (a Game 7 loss to the Pistons in the Eastern Conference finals). But rather a Dwyane Wade playoff injury that could not be overcome. That also was a season without a dominant team in the East, similar to how the coming season is setting up. Yes, those Pistons were good enough to take the Spurs to seven games in the NBA Finals, but hardly were a dominant roster, in some way similar to the current defending-champion Knicks. So, yes, this very much could turn into instant success under everything-goes-right scenarios.
Q: Ira, you cite “robust Heat attendance” at a California gathering of players pre-camp. Can you elaborate on these sessions as to duration, who participated, etc.? What does it say about the players who were not there? – J.J., Palmetto Bay.
A: Seemingly everyone was there beyond Tim Hardaway Jr., who has been working out in New York, and Simone Fontecchio, who only now is returning from Italy. Even Nikola Jovic and Pelle Larsson made it back from Europe for the workouts. As for those workouts, do not confuse them for the work during training camp. But continuity never hurts, especially with so much roster turnover, which is what makes it meaningful to see players such as Giannis Antetokounmpo, Klay Thompson, Bobby Portis, Nick Richards and even rookies such as Ryan Conwell and Ian Schieffelin there.
Q: Devin Carter can be no worse than Myron Gardner right? Worth the risk. If anything, give Gardner Vlad Goldins’s two way spot. – Dim.
A: Actually, Myron Gardner at the moment is the better shooter than Devin Carter, which matters. Plus, Myron has worked his way through the Heat developmental system and put in the time with the team. Now, in place of Vlad Goldin? Vlad’s two-way spot very much could be in play during the preseason.