ASK IRA: Have playoffs shown Heat value of a roster-altering trade?
Q: Ira, the Knicks traded Julius Randle for Karl-Anthony Towns and both teams are better for it. That should show the Heat that sometimes you have to shake it up. – Paul.
A: Fair point. But such a move typically comes when teams are attempting, for lack of better wording, to top off contending rosters that already are in place. For the Timberwolves, it was finding the best fit alongside Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert.
For the Knicks, it was the best fit alongside Jalen Brunson. The reality is the Heat don’t have their Edwards or their Brunson. So for the Heat, a lateral move at the moment would be rearranging the deck chairs.
It is when you get a foundational piece that you make the ancillary moves. So the debate for the Heat would be whether Bam Adebayo is that foundational piece. Based on the way the Heat have chased stars during Bam’s tenure, it seemingly says a lot about their thinking.
Related Articles Submit your “Ask Ira” question here! Q: Ira, let us pretend for a chance I was the owner and I hired you to replace Pat Riley. What would be your plan to get this franchise to contend again and as a task we agreed on a three-year plan?