ASK IRA: Is Miami Heat’s loss the Orlando Magic’s Jamal Cain gain?
Q: Ira, you and everyone who works for the Heat are so quick to point to their developmental success. But if they’re so good at identifying prospects, then how did they let Jamal Cain get away? He’s in the playoffs and they’re not.
– Brad. A: (First, I do not work for the Heat, I just take their free drinks and cookies at halftime. ) As for the success Jamal Cain is having with the Magic this postseason, it simply is a universal NBA story that not every developmental success story becomes your own success story.
The Magic, for example, started the season with a pair of former Heat prospects on their roster on two-way contracts, in Jamal Cain and Orlando Robinson. Jamal paid off; Orlando didn’t. But also understand that there is a limit of three two-way players at a time per team (previously two) and among those the Heat have had on two-way deals since Jamal have been Dru Smith, Keshad Johnson and Myron Gardner.
And the Heat certainly have gotten plenty right over the years in the two-way process, including Duncan Robinson, Max Strus, Gabe Vincent, Derrick Jones Jr. and Caleb Martin. Related Articles Submit your “Ask Ira” question here!
Q: Ira, do you see the Heat keeping Keshad Johnson? He is obviously athletic, as evidenced by him winning the slam-duck contest this year. He is what the Heat need as far as being a young, athletic wing who demonstrates good rebounding.