Has NBA holding pattern held back Pat Riley, Miami Heat?
Q: Ira, has Rob Pelinka surpassed Pat Riley as the best Executive in the NBA? He seems to be hungrier and more proactive in signing quality players, like Christian Wood, while Riley is content with just sitting back and waiting for Portland to drop Damian Lillard in his lap. – Greg, Jacksonville.
A: Well that certainly is an oversimplification. And among the reasons the Lakers have been so aggressive in adding complementary pieces this offseason is because of the lack of support previously in place for LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Yes, there is something to be said about Gabe Vincent, Taurean Prince, Christian Wood, Jaxson Hayes and Cam Reddish, but let’s not overstate the reality that all five likely will be reserves, at best, for the Lakers. And it is possible that those five wind up, collectively, logging fewer minutes for the Lakers than Josh Richardson, Thomas Bryant and Jamie Jaquez Jr. for the Heat (unless, of course, there is a Damian Lillard trade). Plus, there is the Heat’s developmental program in place with Nikola Jovic and Orlando Robinson, among others. The Heat have not failed this offseason, even as the Lakers have succeeded. Both can be true.
Q: The Knicks (prior regime) traded a whole team for Carmelo Anthony at midseason when they could have waited to the end of the season and obtained Melo for a lot less in free agency. A few years later, the Heat wouldn’t cave to Tom Thibodeau and the Timberwolves’ demands for Jimmy Butler. The Heat acquired Jimmy Butler via a sign-and-trade with Philadelphia before the start of the next season. Let me know when Damian Lilliard is on the Heat. – Stuart.
A: But patience is hard in sports. And the longer you wait for Damian Lillard, the longer the clock ticks on Jimmy Butler’s odometer. So, no, there should not be Heat desperation. But there also has to be the perspective of being in a win-now moment. The Blazers know that. For the Heat, it is a delicate balance. Perhaps a little more to get it done sooner, but not at the cost of mortgaging more than is required.
Q: Ira, what say you about that dismal defense and Steve Kerr being unable to win without Stephen Curry? – Danny.
A: That this hardly was a team representative of the best that USA Basketball can offer. Again, the World Cup is the ultimate basketball championship for the rest of the world, as the passion of Serbia and Germany showed in the semifinals. For the United States, the ultimate gold has been Olympic gold. Expect a far more representative version of USA elite when it comes to the Paris Games next summer. And then expect gold.
