ASK IRA: Do the Heat have to sell their future for a better present reality?
Q: Hello, Ira. Is there a path where the Miami Heat gets to have their cake and eat it too? Can the Heat front office stay patient and wait until the Blazers’ front office becomes more amenable to a Heat offer that holds on to a young asset or two, in order to have a win-now team headed by Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo and Damian Lillard and a win-later team with Bam spearheading a seasoned young core once Jimmy and Dame age out? Or is the price of trading for a win-now 30-plus superstar is that you can have your chip now, but at the cost of your team’s future? – Carlos, West Park.
A: Two thoughts here. First, typically when you attempt to have something both ways, you diminish the effectiveness of either plan. Second, it is way too premature to forecast that players such as Nikola Jovic and Jaime Jaquez Jr. will turn into a seasoned core. And if you truly are attempting to have it both ways, then the best way to split the difference would be to have Jimmy Butler and Kyle Lowry as your win-now veterans and then Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro as your next-gen focus. Again, I think that would leave you short on both ends. This has long been a win-now operation when it comes to the leading men, with a support system that is built through development. I would not expect that to change.
Q: Clearly, there needs to be some type of pressure by Damian Lillard to force something “uncomfortable” upon management and move this stalemate. My question is by doing so could he be fined by simply stating the truth. Something like, “After the season ended I met with the leadership team to inform them I wanted to be traded unless they committed to going out and bringing in experienced talent to win a championship. It was clear after the draft the team was moving in another direction and that I was not a long-term part of a rebuilding. I asked for a trade and in the months that followed, I’ve patiently awaited a trade yet nothing has happened. I want to inform Blazers fans that I will always treasure the countless memories I’ve made and gave my heart and soul to this franchise. But, it’s time to move and I will not report to training camp and continue this charade any longer. I respectfully ask ownership to do the right thing and get a deal done.” Could he be fined for making a statement like this? – Brian, Fort Lauderdale.
A: I think you either have to be passive or aggressive. By taking a watered-down approach, it is a middling message that does not truly resonate. Plus, according to your example, it is not necessarily an approach that would get Damian Lillard to a desired destination. As for an NBA fine for speaking out, it would be so miniscule in terms of percentage of earnings that it likely would have as little impact on Lillard as it did on James Harden.
Q: Do teams tend to pull back on their best offer and offer less when they are made to wait, which puts the recipient at a disadvantage by waiting? – Rodney.
A: Well, that would be the threat, particularly with an older player becoming somewhat of a diminishing asset (plus the possibility of injury torpedoing the process). Basically, it comes down to this: Are the Blazers prepared for an Oct. 2 media day with a disgruntled Damian Lillard? Or would Lillard be willing to stay away until a deal is done (which would appear to diminish his control of the process)?