Q: There must be some plan with contingencies that Pat Riley and Andy Elisburg have cooked up to land another impact player, probably next offseason. One clue is the way that Andrew Wiggins’ contract extension is laid out to create more payroll space in 2027. If Giannis Antetokounmpo signs the maximum extension, his first year salary will be in the same $63 million range as his player option. They’ll probably sign the remaining two players they need to complete this season’s roster, to one-year deals only. That would give them about $50 million in space under the first apron for 2027 to do a big trade or sign-and-trade for another impact player(s). Just like every other time Pat Riley has landed a superstar, then acquired more players to put around the star. – Morgan, New Orleans. A: But that doesn’t mean the Heat aren’t living in the moment in this moment. They were living in the moment the first year of the Big Three, before signing Shane Battier. They were living in the moment the first year with Shaquille O’Neal, before the blockbuster trade for Antoine Walker, Jason Williams and James Posey. They were living in the moment the first season with Jimmy Butler, before adding Jae Crowder and Andre Iguodala at midseason. So while there might be more coming in a year, the “now” part of the equation still very much matters. Related Articles
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Q: Ira, I would be perfectly happy if the Heat brought back Gabe Vincent, Haywood Highsmith and took a flyer on a rehabbed Victor Oladipo to fill out our three remaining roster spots. At least we would be getting players who we know are hard workers, never complain and know what it takes to be a part of Heat Culture. – Greg, Jacksonville. A: There have been times when going back to the future made sense for the Heat. This might not be that time, with major needs still at play, namely 3-point spacing, a starting shooting guard, and another big body for the power rotation. Plus, with the Heat relatively tight against the hard cap, the decisions have to be perfect, since there might not be any second chances. In a perfect world, you could sort through players on non-guaranteed contracts. But veterans willing to take such deals are few and far between. Victor Oladipo might be an exception, but the Heat did not even attend his open tryout in Las Vegas during summer league. Q: As a concerned Heat fan since the 2000s, I’m concerned that maybe we have lost the view of how this game of basketball is played. As we both are aware of the historical things Miami has done, I’m torn right now as we allow a point guard ( Russell Westbrook) to retire when he is what Miami says they love, that good old-fashioned dog. If we take away the name and look at his accomplishments, would we still not give him a look, and I mean an actual look? He fills all the boxes that Miami truly needs. We gave Jimmy Butler a chance when the league looked down on him. As a Heat-lifer, I feel Westbrook has proven in Dever that he can play with a big man who is ball dominant, and that team did not have great shooters. They just needed him to get a bucket when the time was right, when Nikola Jokic was sitting/resting. – Raymond. A: Then again, the beauty of the NBA is that many have un-retired over the years. But with the lack of shooting on this roster, it still seems like a non-starter. That doesn’t mean Russell Westbrook isn’t free to retire to South Florida, like so many others.