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ASK IRA: Do Heat need to act now with $2.65M exception?

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December 28, 2014

Q: Could the Heat save their exception for a veteran in the last year of his contract that's going to be cut and can still provide help? -- Martin.

A: Yes, the buyout deadline certainly could be another avenue for the Heat to spend the $2.65 million disabled-player salary-cap exception they received for Josh McRoberts' knee injury. Basically, players who have been in the league this season and are waived by March 1 are allowed to sign with another team and be playoff eligible. Caron Butler was an example last season. But most players in such situations generally already have been paid for the season and are not necessarily in the market for much more than the veteran's minimum. The real issue there is the timing. Yes, the Heat could wait until March 1 to outbid another team on the buyout market. But their need for roster relief would appear to be far more immediate. The exception can be spent between now and March 10, but this appears to be a sooner-rather-than-later situation. Then again, if the Heat can stabilize their situation, it would give them a card they could use down the road (say if they trade one of their point guards and choose to use it on a point guard, instead).

Q: All I know is that Hassan Whiteside has earned playing time and should be a Heat player long term? -- Alfredo.

A: I don't know about "long term" because we haven't had enough of a sample size yet. But if he shows in coming weeks that he can rebound, block shots and, most importantly, defend, then I could envision the possibility of the Heat trading Chris Andersen (one of their few trade chips), perhaps as a means of getting back into the draft, and giving Whiteside additional time. I think it is already is apparent that Whiteside will make it through the Jan. 10 guarantee date. His energy and sized helped Saturday against the Grizzlies, but he still is raw, very raw. He needs to add strength and play a bit more under control.

Q: The Grizzlies were playing a back-to-back game and were stronger than the Heat at the start and at the finish. What does that say? -- Evan.

A: That the Grizzlies with Zach Randolph are a far, far better team than the Heat without Chris Bosh. The Heat's guard play beyond Dwyane Wade on Saturday night was atrocious. I don't know if Shabazz Napier is the answer, but someone who can make a shot and make a play would be.

December 27, 2014

Q: Ira, do you think the way things are going for the Heat so far this season they'll still be able to make the playoffs, and if so, what round do you think they make it through? Thank you -- Juan, Miami.

A: It has been such a rollercoaster that this tends to be an in-the-moment answer, which means you probably would have received a different response after the loss to the 76ers compared to now, after the victory over the Cavaliers. With seven of eight on the road after Monday's home game against the Magic, I think you'll have a pretty good measure by mid-January, which is also both when the Heat reach the midpoint of their schedule and the first day (Jan. 15) the Heat are eligible to trade Chris Andersen (who might have the most value among the Heat's non-Wade, non-Bosh pieces). First, it's going to be really difficult not to make the playoffs, when you consider that only seven teams in the Easy don't advance. You can already count out the 76ers, Knicks and Pistons, and it's hard to make much of a compelling case (or reason) for the Magic or Celtics. So it comes down to the ability to beat out two of these teams: Charlotte, Indiana, Brooklyn or Milwaukee. Beyond that, as the Heat showed against Cleveland, when they can focus on a single opponent, they almost always give themselves a chance, especially if they can avoid the Bulls or Cavaliers in the first round. So the short answer: I think they will be in the playoffs and, if healthy, have a chance for the second round.  

Q: The team can play a "grind it out" style of basketball but probably only for a five-game stretch until they tire out. -- Eric.

A: I don't think they have any other option. They no longer can afford to gamble for steals to fuel their offense, with their halfcourt defense so suspect, and they don't have the speed or athleticism they once possessed. With Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh they do, however, have two quality halfcourt components. It's who they are right now.

Q: Ira, why not more minutes for Hassan Whiteside, who had five rebounds and a block in very limited action? -- Raul, Naples.

A: I think he will continue to steadily get more. First, I think the minutes as a starter will wear on Chris Andersen, but I also think the Heat will come to appreciate the need to have a rebounder and shot-blocker on the court, someone other than Birdman to provide deterrence. At minimum, I think Whiteside will get the minutes Justin Hamilton had been getting, and could see him getting some of the minutes Andersen and Udonis Haslem currently are receiving.

December 26, 2014

Q: If Dwyane Wade plays some more at point guard, which allows more Danny Granger (as the closing lineup featured), we could mask the Heat's point guard play. Thoughts? -- Martin.

A: I think playing Granger alongside Wade was inspired, because the Heat, especially amid the absence of Chris Bosh, too often have been left without a secondary scoring option beyond Wade. You saw that at the end of the 76ers game, when Philadelphia was sending two and three defenders at Wade, and you saw that approach again again by Cleveland. But the problem is who defends the opposing point guard? That wasn't as pronounced Thursday, because Kyrie Irving plays more as a shooting guard, with LeBron James handling most of the playmaking. It could come down to whether Luol Deng can take shifts against opposing point guards. Mostly what I liked about Thursday's rotation was Erik Spoelstra got his best players on the court. And I think having a second scorer in the lineup with Wade is essential. Ganger capably filled that role against Cleveland.

Q: Ira, I liked the classy response at the arena and the way everything was handled by the team. I hope the ESPN blowhards are on the air so they have to say something. -- Ingrid.

A: I agree that the fans showed the proper respect and that the Heat handled LeBron's return as well as possible, in marked contrast to the venom and vulgarity of when the Heat went to Cleveland the first time with LeBron. It was a classy production throughout, regardless of the result. The timing of just about everything Thursday at AmericanAirlines Arena was impeccable, including the pregame Christmas videos, the choir performances and, for some people's tastes, Flo Rida's performance.

Q: Luol Deng had another nice game. Is he coming around? -- Al.

A: Again, his play has a lot to do with how others integrate him into the mix. He said he appreciated the "floppy" action the Heat were running, and I think that's what the Heat need to more, add a bit more structure to the offense so he can get into a rhythm with his movement, instead of so much of it being random. I think the Heat's scoring droughts come when there aren't reliable play sets that can be implanted at times such as those.

December 25, 2014

Q: Ira, ENOUGH. Read your Twitter comments. No one wants to keep reading about LeBron James. He's gone. You and your newspaper have to get over it. -- Kevin, Miami.

A: Agreed. But this is different, this is special, his first visit back. There still are/were many storylines that needed to be tied up, answers that only now could be addressed. And the reality is when you have/had a star player, his legacy never disappears. In this case, even with James gone, you're still going to have Dwyane Wade talking about and in touch with his close friend. Look, when Shaquille O'Neal left, his presence still could be felt in the organization, from that fallout. The same is the case with LeBron, especially with him surrounded by former Heat players such as Mike Miller, James Jones and even Shawn Marion. What I do/will agree with is the fact that it is time to move past the what-would-have-been and what-could-have-been. I agree that the focus should be forward thinking, about what comes next. But if Wade, Erik Spoelstra or Pat Riley reference LeBron, then it still is a talking point. Has there been LeBron fatigue in this market? Sure. What the team and its fan base had to endure this offseason was exhausting. But what came before was exhausting, as well, because of how exhilarating. Now it's time for new chapters. But those chapters almost certainly will be tied to the era when LeBron James made the Heat the most relevant franchise in the NBA for more than 50 months straight.

Q: We need another wing. Philadelphia doubled Dwyane Wade and every other player went to sleep. It's like no one could do anything -- completely helpless. It was just giving the ball to Wade to go one-on-three. Then 3-point shots. The 76ers' pressure intimidated them so much. -- N.T.

A: That's an issue with the Heat's wings. Luol Deng has never been known for his ballhandling or on-ball play and James Ennis can be a wreck at times with his ballhandling. A lot of this comes down to the Heat failing to find a true backup shooting guard behind Dwyane Wade. First Shannon Brown didn't pan out, and now Andre Dawkins is more developmental than contributor. And for all he accomplished earlier in the season, Mario Chalmers simply is not a full-time answer for such a role. Perhaps it yet can be Danny Granger, but he continues to play tentatively after missing so much time.

Q: Andre Dawkins looked great in the D-League. Why not give him a chance when Norris Cole or Mario Chalmers can't hit a shot? -- Gio.

A: Because he's not a point guard. But if Dawkins can shoot like he did with Sioux Falls, then it would be intriguing, once the Heat get back to something closer to whole, to see if Erik Spoelstra would consider playing Dawkins in a backcourt alongside Wade. Again, the issue there would be who would guard the opposing point guard. The last thing the Heat can afford is Wade chasing quicker, younger opposing point guards, considering his offensive workload.

December 24, 2014

Q: How? -- (Asked in various forms by dozens to this forum).

A: Because without Chris Bosh, this team has about zero margin of error. The reality is that without Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade in the lineup together, the Heat are a lot closer to Kobe and the Lakers, or Carmelo and the Knicks, than a playoff team. What separates the Heat from those two is the ability to feature a pair of quality players, which in the Eastern Conference should easily get you in the playoffs. But because Wade won't be there every night, and because Bosh already has missed so much time with his injury, there has to be a Plan B that is easily accessible, one that includes specific play calls that are tried and tested in practice,  that can work when Wade Hero Ball isn't working. Instead, there was a mess of scrambled and jumbled offense when the 76ers stepped up their defense. There was no Plan B and it was humbling. How (you all asked)? Because if Wade isn't facilitating, no one else seemingly does. Michael Carter-Williams is far, far better than anything the Heat have at point guard. With Bosh, there at least can be relief points in the post or mid-post. Without Bosh, there have to be more screens, more movement. Precision. When there isn't, Tuesday is the result.

Q: Ira, I spent Tuesday listening on the radio about why we can't boo LeBron James. Why can't we root for Heat Nation and against anyone who doesn’t want to be part? -- Bob.

A: First, when you buy a ticket, you can do anything you want as long as it's not profane, dangerous or impacting someone else's enjoyment of the game. So if you want to boo . . . go for it. But you also would be booing someone who had some of the most positive impact in the history of South Florida sports. I think you cheer for the man and his South Florida accomplishments . . . and then you vent elsewhere -- talk radio, if you prefer -- about how he orchestrated his exit. Because that part was flat-out rude, seemingly not giving the scantest bit of consideration for those who he left behind. Had James been up front with Pat Riley, it is possible that LeBron's friend Dwyane Wade would currently have a better, or at least more complementary, supporting cast. There was no reason for LeBron to leave with a scorched-earth approach. That part is jeer-worthy. But not what he did for South Florida. That part deserves an ovation, standing or otherwise. That's your choice.

Q: Why would you spend now on Josh Smith if you might be able to get Andray Blatche later? -- Wil.

A: Look, there is no guarantee that the Heat will have their disabled-player exception in time to offer it to Josh Smith, anyway. And for now, the Heat have remained mum on the Smith subject. But a name like Josh Smith doesn't come along like this very often, at a moment when you are in desperate need, having just lost your starting power forward. Again, he is better than what the Heat have. And that's where the Heat stand. The hope is Josh McRoberts is back either later this season or next season, and the position winds up covered. Others have mentioned Jermaine O'Neal. But the need is now, not for a player either tied up in China, like Blatche, or needing extended time to get into game shape, like O'Neal.

December 23, 2014

Q: Ira, is Josh Smith worth the risk? Doesn't he have a reputation as being a bit disruptive? Sure, if he signs with the Heat he come at a great discount. But turning Josh Smith lose in South Beach could be troubling. -- Chet.

A: When the price is right, everything is worth investigating. And in the Heat's salary-cap position, you can't be too choosy, especially when you apparently just lost Josh McRoberts for the season. Unlike other potential landing spots, the starting job is there for the taking for Smith, an opportunity to rebuild his image snow-free and tax-free. And in the Eastern Conference, there also is a greater chance for a playoff payoff than with some of the Western Conference teams that have expressed interest. Yes, I know the Heat say they only were kicking tires Monday, but that also is what you do before you buy. Anthony Mason worked out perfectly for Pat Riley in a season of duress. So could Josh Smith wind up as Anthony Mason II? And Mason also got paid after his resurrection with the Heat.

Q: When the stars return, will James Ennis and Luol Deng be as productive? We will see. Both can be productive when they are moving. Who will facilitate that? Both players were energized on Sunday. -- Leon, Miami.

A: I agree that teammates can't allow Deng and Ennis go to waste. Both are best off the ball. But that means having the right players to get them the ball, and I'm not sure the Heat's point guards are up to that challenge on a routine basis. What the Heat have to do, when Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh return, is to keep the ball moving, Wade and Bosh being definitive with their moves, then either shooting or getting off the ball. The Heat can have enough weapons, if they utilize them.

Q: Ira, are the Heat burning Bird out? If we want him for the playoffs in April, should he be starting in December? -- John.

A: While Chris Andersen has been starting, Erik Spoelstra has been mindful of keeping his minutes similar to when he was playing off the bench. And I still see this as a stop-gap approach. When Chris Bosh gets back, I think Birdman will go back to the bench. And with Udonis Haslem again playing well, Spoelstra has enough options to keep the mileage down on Bird.


December 22, 2014

Q: Ira, I like James Ennis' energy. And now he's playing more under control. -- Chet.

A: I don't know if he's necessarily more under control, nor if that is something the Heat are looking for. What makes Ennis unique among Heat players is his motor. And that motor powered the Heat to 10 points and five rebounds in the fourth quarter Sunday, when it appeared some of the veterans were running on fumes. Games against the Celtics on Sunday and then Tuesday against the 76ers are perfect spots for Ennis, against young teams more concerned with finding their own way. The question is whether Ennis can get it done against elite teams who know how to counter what he might do best. But among the Heat rookies, he has taken the greatest strides recently and it was nice to see Spoelstra have the trust to play him all 12 minutes of Sunday's fourth quarter. The irony, of course, is that it had been Shabazz Napier who had been playing entire fourth quarters earlier this season. It will be interesting, with Danny Granger now back, to see how Spoelstra spots Ennis going forward. Then again Ennis vs. LeBron James could have some interesting outcomes Thursday. The plot thickens.

Q: Ira, when the Heat get the injury exception for Josh McRoberts, they still would have to release a player to make a roster spot. Tell me it won't be Andre Dawkins. -- Ivan.

A: I doubt it, not after what Dawkins showed during his D-League stint. When it comes to odd man out, considering the promise Hassan Whiteside has shown, it is possible that Justin Hamilton could be the odd man out if the Heat get and utilize an injured-player exception for McRoberts' absence. Remember, McRoberts still would have to count against the 15-man roster limit even if the Heat add a player with his injury exception.

Q: I don't understand, Shabazz Napier is a better point guard than Mario Chalmers or Norris Cole. -- Alex.

A: But not as polished when it comes to decision making or defensive positioning. And possibly not strong enough yet to maneuver through NBA-level screens. The one thing about Heat prospects is that their chance tends to come again if they are patient. Just look at Ennis.

December 21, 2014

Q: To me, Mario Chalmers is a magician: He has a good game once every five or so and then disappears, poof! He shoots an occasional three, misses a ton of shots, very inconsistent and poof he is a starter! How does he do it? -- Stone, Miami.

A: Because the Heat's other options at point guard are Norris Cole and Shabazz Napier? The Heat arguably have the worst rotation at point guard in the league. So Erik Spoelstra has to try something. The reality is that Chalmers seemingly was playing well in his combo role off the bench, and essentially is remaining in such a role, coming out early in favor of Cole and then re-entering before the end of the first quarter in place of Dwyane Wade. When you think about it, the Heat have already demoted Napier to the D-League and demoted Cole from the starting lineup. It's as if they know what they don't have. The solution would be a D-and-three guard the Heat could play alongside Wade, since Wade lacks the quickness at his age to play point guard defensively. But Wade essentially has emerged as the Heat's offensive point guard, the way he has taken over getting the Heat into offense.

Q: The best trade option would be Norris Cole and whatever it takes for Dion Waiters. LeBron James gets to play with a point guard he likes, and we get a strong back up for Dwyane Wade so he can take days off (and not have to do 42 points on a nightly basis.) -- Nelson, Kendall.

A: Works for me. But I'm not sure it would work for the Cavaliers, who realize that Mike Miller, with his injuries, is not exactly a fulltime player.

Q: Although at the time it was generally considered another masterful job by Pat Riley, did Riles make a bad thing worse by signing Chris Bosh and Josh McRoberts long term? When LeBron left, did we miss an opportunity to build a new foundation? -- Steve, Miami.

A: No, I like that he limited the long-term commitment to just two players, so there still is plenty of flexibility. And I think the Bosh-McRoberts pairing is intriguing, one that had precious little time on the court before the two were sidelined, McRoberts now likely for the season. As long as the two can make it work next season, I think it is a pairing that could prove intriguing to free agents, as well. Bosh has the look of a player whose game could age well.

December 20, 2014

Q: Tough loss Friday, but the silver lining is the upside of Hassan Whiteside. -- John.

A: I agree that it is nice to have young, active length. Chris Andersen does what he can, but you can see that he is limited, and starting minutes are a stretch at this stage of his career. Obviously foul trouble will be an issue, and the kid is still plenty raw, but I would go ahead and move Whiteside ahead of Justin Hamilton in the rotation. If he can rebound and block shots, he could wind up as a perfect complement to Chris Bosh. For all those who had been calling for a return of Khem Birch, Friday offered a glimpse into Whiteside's possibilities.

Q: What have Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole done to make Shabazz Napier not play? -- Ray.

A: You're missing the point. Chalmers and Cole have nothing to do with Napier. Napier is the one who decides whether he plays. And that means a better assist-to-turnover ratio, better on-ball defense, basically not being a liability in the minutes he's on the court. But against the level of competition of the Wizards, the Heat gave themselves a better shot by bypassing Napier on Friday night. Now, that doesn't mean there's not a place for him in the upcoming games against the Celtics and 76ers. The Cavaliers and Grizzlies? At this stage, that might be a different story.

Q: Ira, I wonder when are you going to start to criticize Erik Spoelstra? I understand that we have lot of injuries and lot of new players, but he keeps failing to get this team to even compete. In addition, the offense is the most predictable in the league. Give the ball to Dwyane Wade and set a pick and have everybody stand and watch if Wade can create offense, no ball or player movement. -- Gago, Los Angeles.

A: First, you can't judge the offense or anything without Chris Bosh on the court. And when Bosh has been on the court, he often has been the focus of the attack. The reality is that without Wade and Bosh together, this thing essentially grinds to a halt. Luol Deng had his moments Friday, but this team needs far better wing play. And the power rotation simply is not stocked with scorers. This is about way more than coaching. It also is about what the general manager and team president gave to the coach. A Danny Granger who actually plays would have come in handy this week.

December 19, 2014

Q: Dwyane Wade is scoring but over-dribbling. He is not young enough to beat a lot of guys off the dribble. The ball is therefore is not moving. We can and must do better. -- Leon, Miami.

A: You raise a good point about what transpired Wednesday night and why the rest of the Heat offense grew stagnant. The reality is that Wade is the Heat's best facilitator and might be the team's best point guard. But he also is not quick enough to play at point guard defensively. The best of all worlds would be to twin Wade with a defensive-minded three-and-D type of point guard. What happened Wednesday was four others standing around while Wade did his work in the post. The problem is that a player like Luol Deng needs to be able to complement by moving without the ball and receiving it as he makes his cuts. That didn't happen Wednesday, and Deng therefore became marginalized on a six-shot night. That's not Deng's fault; that's how he plays, reliant on others to facilitate his game. It's similar to what Chris Bosh spoke about earlier in the season, about how the Heat need the ball to move. Ten total assists never cut it. The Heat have to find a way to get the ball moving while, of course, also keeping Wade involved.

Q: When healthy, Is Emeka Okafor a viable and realistic option for the Heat? What are the chances Pat Riley makes an offer that Emeka can undoubtedly accept? -- Patrick, Fort Lauderdale.

A: It certainly is a good name, if healthy, and the $2.65 million injured-player exception for Josh McRoberts just might be able to get that done. But the Heat have taken on injury concerns in each of the last two seasons and been left with Greg Oden and now McRoberts being unable to contribute. It doesn't matter how many rebounds or blocks a big man is capable of recording if he is not ambulatory. The Heat need a big who is better than what currently is available, but also who can get and stay on the court. Even Wednesday, Chris Andersen grew winded and had to ask out just 4 1/2 minutes into the second half.

Q: I watched the Jazz game four times, freeze-framed every made Utah three. All but two started with a pass out of a double-team or triple-team on the ball. The Heat need to play straight defense. Let them earn their points. When your opponent shoots better from the 3-point line than the twos, that's a problem. It's the defensive system. Erik Spoelstra is very stubborn. He watches the film, sees the stats. What is he waiting for? It's early in the season. The Heat haven't had a healthy team all year. They will compete if healthy and the coach adjusts his style. -- Morris, New York.

A: Which is why I asked that very question after the Utah game, with Spoelstra contending most of the Jazz's early threes were contested. What I saw were so many Heat defenders packing the paint and dropping closer to the baseline that the passes to open shooters were there on numerous possessions. But, again, you can't tell poor individual defenders to simply do it better. Sometimes they simply aren't good enough. That is the Heat's current dilemma. The perimeter defense has been very poor, individually as much as collectively.


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Q: Let's get Beasley back. -- Ronald.

A: Ah, the new (old) reality.

December 15, 2014






A: So you're the one.

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December 1, 2014

Q: Dwyane Wade. Still special. -- Chet.






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