ASK IRA: Should Heat turn attention to Myles Turner, John Collins?

Q: Ira, John Collins or Myles Turner and call it a day. We’re only a power forward away. –Eddie.

A: The problem is that the Heat are a team with limited trade assets, so once they go out in one deal, any other deal is likely precluded. At this point, at this stage of July, it seems a bit premature for Plan Bs, with Kevin Durant and Donovan Mitchell potentially still on the trade market. Move Duncan Robinson’s salary or Tyler Herro or draft picks in a deal for Myles Turner or John Collins and you effectively are out off the trade market. Of course, because of the way the Heat think big (think of the Antoine Walker, James Posey, Jason Williams deal), perhaps it is a case of trying to get it all, with a player from Column A and a player from Column B, in a multi-team deal. With camp still more than two month away, there’s nothing wrong with daring to dream.

Q: Let’s say we aren’t able to move Duncan Robinson. Can you see him starting again? Especially if he gets his shot back. – Bob, Davie.

A: The issue with Duncan Robinson has never been as much about his play as his contract. His is the only Heat contract between Kyle Lowry’s $28 million for 2022-23 and Tyler Herro’s $5.7 million. Basically, it would be difficult to build any trade, with the requisite matching salaries, if Duncan is not included. And Duncan well could thrive during the regular season. The problem is opponents playing him off the floor in the playoffs, when scouting and intention becomes far more acute.

Q: Please explain why so many fans and talking heads want to break up a terrific Heat team that was No. 1 in the East in the regular season and No. 1A in the playoffs. From my perspective, even without P.J. Tucker, the Heat will be a better team in 2022-23 because the young guys will have benefited from their experiences, and the older players like Kyle Lowry, in particular, will come back in better shape and hungrier. I sincerely hope the Heat keep this current roster. They are exciting to watch. – Norm, Dupont, Wash.

A: With the Heat searching this summer for an All-Star, one could already be in place if Kyle Lowry can regain his prior form. He appears to be working in that direction, but at 36 nothing is a given. The Heat got Kyle to his preferred destination at his preferred price point. So now the question becomes whether there will be a season-two payoff. It can be argued that the Heat have yet to see Kyle at his best.

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from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/abg2IoN