ASK IRA: Should Christian Wood be on the Heat’s radar in NBA free agency?
Q: Wouldn’t it make sense to get Dwight Howard for the veteran minimum in order to throw a bigger body against the Nikola Jokics and Joel Embiids of the world? – Kareem, West Orange, N.J.
A: No, it would not, not at 37. If the Heat were to add another big man to the mix already in place with Bam Adebayo, Thomas Bryant, Kevin Love and Orlando Robinson, I first would see if Christian Wood was available. For that matter, I would wait to see if Jusuf Nurkic becomes a potential and-one in a Damian Lillard trade. The changing NBA game is a tough fit for Dwight at this stage of his career. And this is a Heat team that needs to get younger in certain aspects, including having moved through the Udonis Haslem era. I’m not sure the Heat need be looking at a player who spent last season with the TaiwanBeer Leopards in the Taiwan league, albeit the eventual 2023 MVP of that league.
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Q: Before I begin, this isn’t a Tyler Herro fan man, this is stating unequivocal facts. You mentioned that Tyler Herro is a capable No. 3 option on a playoff roster, but the jury is out if on a championship team. Well, you can’t be a champion without being in the playoffs. so that is just a confusing hypothetical to benign with. But the fact that a 19-year-old Tyler did what only one other 19-year-old has ever done in the NBA Finals, as a rookie, until this very moment, to go along with 14.7 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.0 assists in six games. He then led all NBA players in fourth-quarter minutes played in 2021. I guess you cherry pick memories, like the 37 points in Game 4 vs. Boston where he closed the fourth quarter with 17 points. You are so “objective” in your analysis that your bias against how good this young man has already proven to be is off putting and can’t be taken seriously. – David, Miami.
A: Whoa. Throughout this whole trade-speculation process, I think Tyler Herro has been treated completely unfairly, as if some type of throwaway player that no one wants or needs. The sticking point with Portland has been their surfeit of talent at his position. Tyler Herro is far more valuable than the way he has been minimized amid the Damian Lillard speculation. He has been on the cusp of All-Star for years. And of the 12 players drafted ahead of him in 2019, I’m not sure an argument could be made about anyone other than Ja Morant, and perhaps Darius Garland outperforming him (considering all the missed time by Zion Williamson), It is no slight to say that Tyler Herro at the moment is not the equal of Damian Lillard. But it is a slight to consider him a player that a contender might not want.
Q: Why should I watch summer league? – Samson.
A: Because you enjoy basketball? And because Nikola Jovic remains a fascinating study for the Heat in his NBA maturation. Or simply because it beats the American Cornhole League on ESPN.