Q: Names like Donovan Mitchell and Bradley Beal keep getting thrown out there as players the Heat should get this offseason. In the case of Mitchell, why would the Jazz take on a contract like Duncan Robinson’s and what else would we need to throw in there to entice them? In the case of Beal, he would be forgoing a lot of money to sign with us would he not? – Jake, Tallahassee.
A: Because you never know unless you try. And this is something where the Heat get caught when Pat Riley talks of harpooning a whale and they come up empty. It takes a lot of harpoons until you land your prey. For years, before the addition of Jimmy Butler, it largely had been about the ones that got away (although can you imagine if the Heat did land Gordon Hayward either of those two times?). So what you do is cast as wide a net as possible. Yes, most of the bigger fish will get away. But you never know until you at least set your line.
Q: We missed dearly a player like Precious Achiuwa against the Celtics. – Ben, Weston.
A: The Kyle Lowry trade, indeed, could prove to be one that draws second glances, and for more than the three-year, $85 million contract offered in the sign-and-trade with the Raptors. While Precious Achiuwa arguably was too raw to be part of the rotation of a team strong enough to advance to this season’s Eastern Conference finals, he certainly showed enough growth with the Raptors to have a solid future. And based on the emergence of his 3-point shooting, he could emerge as the very type of 3-and-D big man the Heat have come to covet. If the Heat do not make the NBA Finals during Kyle’s tenure, it could be a deal with different final grades.
Q: The NBA has changed drastically in the last 15 years, in that big men now must be able to shoot the three with consistency to stretch the floor. Bam Adebayo’s offensive game is limited. The Celtics bigs packed the paint throughout the series and dared Bam to shoot. Unless Bam develops a consistent outside game, which includes a semblance of a 3-point game he will continue to be a liability for the Heat in the future. – Jonathan, Plantation.
A: No, he has to develop a diversity of offense, and perhaps even more of an attack mode. But he does not need to be loitering at the 3-point line. That does not do anybody any good. Even great centers do not have every offensive tool. If he remains an A-level center, then offense at a B or, preferably, a B+ level will be just fine.
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