ASK IRA: Does Bam block Lillard speculation for Heat?

Q: Ira, Damian Lillard wants to be traded and the Heat needs a star that can score at will. I believe that the Heat have the best trade package. Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro and KZ Okpala Okpala (maybe a future first-rounder) do you think Riley would pull the trigger or does he sit on his hands? — Julio, Cape Coral.

A: First, if the Heat are as appealing to Damian Lillard as some are saying, it is because of Bam Adebayo. Take Bam away from the Heat equation, add Damian, and you’re left with a team no better positioned for a title than the Dame-CJ McCollum team he played on with the Trail Blazers. Yes, Damian is more of a win-now player than Bam, and yes, his career arc is more in line with Jimmy Butler’s, but Dame turned 31 on Thursday, while Bam is 24. That’s a lot of years to be giving away. And, as has largely been chronicled, the Heat do not have a first-round pick to deal, let alone the quantity likely needed for a Lillard trade. Anyone other than Bam and Jimmy Butler, and Pat Riley is offering anything and everything for Lillard. But with that restriction, the Blazers can do better, no matter Damian’s location preferences.

Q: I am going to assume that the Heat have a plan that Bam Adebayo already signed off on to work on his shooting deficiencies whenever he returns from the Olympics. Unfortunately, we won’t know that for a while. We just have to hope that Pat Riley and company can work their magic once again. — Michael, North Miami Beach.

A: No one needs to tell Bam Adebayo what he needs to do to be better. Bam knows and wants to. And will. But “deficiencies” might not be the proper word. Bam has plenty in his overall arsenal. It’s more of a case that the way this Heat roster currently is constituted, more of a perimeter threat from Bam makes the Heat more of an offensive threat. If your concerns is that Bam believes he is complete, he does not.

Q: You’ve written about the Heat scouting for the draft without a draft pick, but shouldn’t they be scouting the Olympics? — Eduard.

A: Basically, they already have. Any player good enough to be competing in the Olympics likely already has been through the draft cycle, or at least competed in major international youth tournaments. The Heat, and the rest of the NBA, already have those scouting reports in their system. That’s not to say that a breakout performance at the Tokyo Games couldn’t open the door to a possibly NBA offer, only that such players have been on the radar well in advance of the opening ceremonies.