ASK IRA: Is an Avery Bradley reunion with Heat worth considering?

Q: I see the Rockets are declining Avery Bradley’s team option. Would he fit with the Heat? — Arturo.

A: Honestly, I believe Avery Bradley would, as he moves past his COVID experience and his injuries. But considering the way it ended with the Heat, with his trade to the league-worst Rockets in March, I’m not sure that the Heat necessarily would be on the top of his list. Still, if the Heat are unable to retain Kendrick Nunn in free agency, if Tyler Herro is moved in a trade, and if Victor Oladipo is unable to make it back, it would be an intriguing option. Unlike with the rough go with Moe Harkless, I believe Avery was fully onboard with the Heat approach in his brief tenure with the team. Then business got in the way. Of course, I’m not sure the Heat would necessarily want to move in the direction of a player who turns 31 next season, especially if Goran Dragic returns. Beyond all of that, the Rockets have more than a month remaining to make their final determination on Avery’s team option, eligible in the interim to pick up the $5.9 million 2021-22 option on his contract in order to put him into a trade.

Q: Don’t you think that Bam Adebayo’s contract extension was one of Pat Riley’s largest mistakes? Donovan Mitchell received the same extension and he was 11th in scoring during the regular season and fourth in scoring in the playoffs. Bam was 37th and 36th, respectively, and he can’t defend large centers. The Heat could’ve matched any offer he received this offseason, which would have been much less than what they gave him. — Don, Miami.

A: And the Heat wanted to wait, going as far as to express to Bam Adebayo the potential benefits for the team in regard to the salary cap by a deferred decision. As far as the money, that simply is how the max works. It doesn’t mean you are equal to other players earning the same, it simply means there is an artificial ceiling for all involved. And while you cite notable numbers, much of what Bam does for the Heat goes beyond statistics. When he received the extension, Bam was coming off an All-Star season, as was Donovan Mitchell. In retrospect, Bam now goes into the start of his extension coming off an uneven postseason. But also, as a matter of perspective, consider that the $28 million Bam will earn next season would have put him 37th in the NBA in terms of salary this past season, behind the likes of Otto Porter, Andre Drummond, Steven Adams, Kevin Love, Mike Conley and others. So, as with all things in the NBA when it comes to salary, it’s relative.

Q: With every big name and free agent being linked to the Heat by rumor and complete fan speculation, let’s take a moment to realize that the most important move the Heat might need to make is Bam Adebayo and Erik Spoelstra working all summer to figure out what Bam will do in the open space given to him by Brook Lopez. Thousands of pull up jumpers off the dribble at the elbow and top of the key and what an offense around that will look like seems to be the easiest and cheapest way this Heat team can most improve. — Dave, Placentia, Calif.

A: And the expectation here is that Bam Adebayo assuredly will go into overdrive this offseason with work on his jumper and post play. Whether that is with Heat shooting coach Rob Fodor and big-man assistant Malik Allen or outside parties, it is work that has to be prioritized. Bam has grown his game in each of his seasons. I would expect that to continue.