Is Damian Lillard speculation a Miami Heat distraction?
Q: Damian Lillard. Damian Lillard. Damian Lillard. Ira, stop it. Every year we set ourselves up for disappointment. Just because Pat Riley got LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh once doesn’t mean every player is coming here. Last time I checked, they didn’t. And you know what? That’s fine – Heat in the NBA Finals two of the last four years. Why are we such masochists? I hope Lillard says he wants to stay in Portland and then we can enjoy Jaime Jaquez, Nikola Jovic and the guys in summer league. Sorry. But someone had to say it. – Lance.
A: And that actually is appreciated. But the NBA rumor-sphere is more than just Heat Nation or South Florida. So when a big fish (or whale, if you will), hits the market (or potentially hits the market), speculation far beyond our South Florida shores makes a connection to the Heat. At this point, that is unpreventable, as it was with last week’s speculation with Bradley Beal. This has become a destination franchise. But the reality, as you cite, is that not everyone can make it to their preferred destination because of salary-cap rules, trade limitations, and the goals of potential trade partners to maximize payoffs elsewhere. Look, Damian Lillard at no point is going to say he doesn’t want to go to the Heat, mostly because he hasn’t publicly said he does. (Inferred? That’s up to the perspective of interpretation.) But, yes, it remains preferable when such matters are quickly addressed so that you can move on, as was the case with the swiftness with Beal, and as wasn’t the case last year with the Summer of Kevin Durant.
Q: Ira, based upon your article on the NBA’s new luxury tax rules, with the Heat already being at the first apron level, it seems like we might as well go all in by trading Tyler Herro, Kyle Lowry and Duncan Robinson plus draft picks for Damian Lillard and have three bona fide stars, rather than paying the tax anyway and having a mediocre team. – Greg, Jacksonville.
A: (And, thus, our break from Damian Lillard questions is over.) But how exactly do you know that would be good enough for the Blazers, or that they so willingly would take on Duncan Robinson’s lengthy contract? Beyond that, Portland is stocked with guards in the Tyler Herro mold; there really is no need there. As for “having a mediocre team,” is that how you define a team two weeks removed from the NBA Finals?
Q: Are the Heat preparing for life without Max Strus, Duncan Robinson, Tyler Herro and Kyle Lowry? They sure are loading up on shooters on their summer roster. – Brian, Fort Lauderdale.
A: Never overstate summer-league rosters. Unless you are willing to offer guarantees or two-way contracts, you take what you can get. But in adding shooters to the roster the Heat will utilize during summer league in Sacramento and Las Vegas, they add players who should be able to help space the floor, which is helpful when attempting to run offense. The greater concern is having true point guards for summer league. There is nothing uglier than summer rosters without point play. It might be time to send out the signal for Dru Smith. Either that, or we’ll see it Jamaree Bouyea has come around with his playmaking.
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