Q: What does Tyler Herro have to do to get the Heat to start talking extension again in the summer? It seems a little shaky at the moment. – Arn.
A: Basically, there seemingly only would be one way for Tyler Herro to even crack open the door when it comes to talks of the type of extension he might be seeking, and that would be with something highly unlikely to happen for the Heat, as a whole: a playoff takeover where he leads the Heat on a deep run, showing the capability of filling the type of playoff role that Jimmy Butler filled in Jimmy’s best Heat postseasons. That would require at least going three rounds deep, when at the moment the Heat still are in play-in mode. Now, if the asking price would come down to something where it would be prudent for the Heat to lock in their salary structure, that possibly also could open such talks. Most likely is that it will require a complete, healthy, dominant season from Tyler, over an 82-game run, a possibility that no longer can be the case this season.
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Q: Ira, I am so curious to see how much the front office is going to insist that Erik Spoelstra keeps playing the kids, knowing this isn’t a championship season. For Spo, it’s one of those not seeing the forest-from-the-trees kind of deals, where someone has to have him living for more than the win. – Eddie.
A: Not going to happen. You can’t operate a franchise on the basis of living in the moment and then restrain a coach from living in the moment. When the Heat were injured and not whole, it was easier to work in all the kids. Now it appears it will be back to a meritocracy, where development will continue to be maximized away from game minutes, such as we saw when Dru Smith played in the second half in Tuesday night’s loss in Milwaukee ahead of Kasparas Jakucionis. With two months to play in the regular season, the best will play – as in who Erik Spoelstra deems the best. Now, it just so happens that some of the Heat’s best are also in the developmental pipeline.
Q: Giannis Antetokounmpo isn’t going to play anywhere that can’t beat his current teammates. Summer plan is already torpedoed. – John, Ocala.
A: Hard to disagree, considering few players would target a team headed to a fourth consecutive trip to the play-in. Heck, Giannis’ team without him already is tracking toward the play-in.
