ASK IRA: Is Heat timing off for a potential Bradley Beal deal?

Q: Ira, downplaying these Bradley Beal rumors any longer? Is this not the moment we’ve been waiting for? — Paul.

A: And yet the timing of the latest round of conjecture could not be worse for Pat Riley and the Heat. If Bradley Beal, as has been speculated, seriously is considering pushing for a trade from the Wizards in conjunction with Thursday’s NBA draft, then the process could leave the Heat in its wake. For the Heat to have any legitimate shot at Beal, especially in the absence of first-round picks to put into play, it could involve including Duncan Robinson and/or Kendrick Nunn in sign-and-trade maneuvers. However, there is no legal way to even broach that possibility until the Aug. 2 start of NBA free agency. At the moment, the Heat cannot offer Robinson or Nunn to anyone. Last offseason, in a similar situation, the Bucks appeared to have secured Bogdan Bogdanovic from the Kings in a deal prearranged ahead of free agency. Then the NBA caught wind. Then the Bucks were penalized. And then Bogdanovic wound up signing with the Hawks. So while the Heat, of course, would be interested in a Beal trade, they would be most interested if it happened at a slightly later date.

Q: Team USA men’s basketball should be ashamed with that effort or lack of it. At the end of the day, both teams played through horrible officiating in a very physical game, but France played until the whistle was blown and made shots when it counted. There needs to be a scrappy hunger in your belly for a championship at this level. — Srezn.

A: For as much talent as there is on the USA Basketball roster, it still comes down to individual scorers who can make plays when the defense tightens. On this Team USA roster that is Kevin Durant and Damian Lillard. Durant spent Sunday’s loss to France in foul trouble and Lillard never got to his game. That allowed Evan Fournier to be the game’s most effective offensive player, and allowed France to close it out. If the U.S., as still expected, makes it to the knockout round, they’re going to have to have the best player on the court. Sunday, that was not the case.

Q: Bam Adebayo has way too many flaws to overlook and if the right deal comes about, Miami would be foolish to make him untouchable. — M.F.

A: Bam Adebayo is not untouchable, it’s just that Pat Riley might have a different view when it comes to the “right deal.” Sunday’s loss to France hardly was an indictment. Bam measured up in the loss far better than most teammates.