Q: As a Heat fan since Day One and a season-ticket holder since season two, I have no problem with the Heat tanking and rebuilding through the draft. Watching the original front office build a team of Rony Seikaly, Kevin Edwards, Grant Long, Glen Rice, Sherman Douglas, Steve Smith, Alec Kessler and Willie Burton, those were some fun times. There is a very deep draft pool this year and going forward I believe future drafts will have a talented pool of players, especially since players from Europe are included. I say go ahead and tank. Let’s see what kind of team Pat Riley can put together with a team of draftees. – David, Fort Lauderdale.
A: And that is part of the problem that the Heat have fostered in recent years. Because the Heat largely have moved away from the draft as their prime building component, there has become less appreciation of the possibilities. Instead, with mostly mid-tier picks (from Bam Adebayo at No. 14 to Tyler Herro at No. 13 to Jaime Jaquez Jr. at No. 18 to Kasparas Jakucionis at No. 20), the Heat have gone years without adding a prime foundational component in the draft. The only way that happens is by a major step back or a lightning bolt of luck. The Heat continually have refused the step back, and their luck has not been particularly profitable in the draft. In the end, the Heat have been a victim of their success. The front office has been too good. The scouting staff has been too successful. The coaching staff has been too impactful. Such is the NBA life, where at least a degree of incompetence is needed to take the required step back to make the step forward.
Q: A lot of people complain that the Heat won’t/don’t tank, I’d be happy if they could figure out how to lose the play-in. Moving up a few spots combined with the Adam Simon Scouting Dept. could net a difference maker. – John, Ocala.
A: It is interesting how that almost has become the line in the sand at this point, considering that with the paths of the Pacers, Nets, Wizards, Bulls and Bucks, it will be practically impossible not to at least make the play-in. But you are correct, that if you are eliminated in the play-in, you at least get to play the lottery odds. It would be fascinating if they actually would consider this at 601 Biscayne on April 13.
Q: Ira, I say play Tyler Herro off the bench until he shows the consistency to again be an everyday player. It should be explained this is not a punishment, but common sense. – Franklin.
A: Agree. The last time Tyler came back from an extended absence, in that case to toe issue, he was utilized off the bench in his first game back and then inserted into the starting lineup the next game. With a pair of back-to-back sets over the next two weeks, the Heat need to know whether Tyler Herro again can become everyday Tyler Herro. Such an approach could assist Tyler in his conditioning, as well as Erik Spoelstra with his rotations.
