Q: In order to consolidate FBI investigations, would the Heat consider waiving Simone and using the savings to sign Malik Beasley? He apparently was found of no wrongdoing. I think his shooting could actually be a good fit. – Lee, Philadelphia.
A: It certainly would be an upgrade on what the Heat have in their 3-point arsenal at the moment, but it also would assuredly push the Heat into the luxury tax. So the question then becomes whether Malik Beasley would make it worthwhile to be in the tax. I guess we’ll get such an answer soon enough, with Friday the deadline for a waive-and-stretch with Simone Fontecchio. As for your “consolidate FBI investigations,” it is interesting how the Malik Beasley investigation came and went while there has been nothing similar yet with Terry Rozier. And the irony is that if the Heat could swap out Terry’s salary for Malik Beasley’s lower salary, they would jump at the opportunity.
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Q: I commend the brain trust for trying to do something that’s really pretty hard, and even though I’m always a bit disappointed to not see Luka Doncic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, the other Nikola (Jokic) or even someone like Kevin Durant come through the door, I recognize that it’s really hard to get the stars to literally align. So just keeping fingers crossed and looking to see what this year’s version of the team can do this season, which hopefully involves scoring more easily. – Phillip, Portland, Ore.
A: Which is why you don’t add more long-term salary than necessary. But it also is why you continue to collect assets. In the end, the right trade at the right time is the most likely to reset this team in a better place.
Q: If you’re going to lean into development, somebody actually has to develop. And with a team full of young guys, I would think the focus would be on one of those recent first-rounders. The Heat did really good pulling Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro out of the middle of the first round, but the future of this team depends on the development of the next batch. – John Ocala.
A: If you believe any can evolve into an All-Star, as Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro have.