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Q: You spoke about getting Jimmy Butler more help (younger) and yet Zach Lavine looks like he and Chicago will part ways, but at what cost? Would it be wise to perhaps consider a trade of Lavine for a Tyler Herro/Max Strus/Duncan Robinson package? We could unload Robinson’s contract for an NBA star in LaVine. But would that work for Chicago? – Rodney,
A: You answered your own question. Typically when you have to pause to ask if a deal would work for a trade partner, you’re acknowledging that it won’t. If the Bulls are concerned with re-upping LaVine then they would be in the same situation with Tyler Herro, who is due a rookie extension this offseason. That, in fact, is why I addressed (against “Ask Ira” policy) such a trade proposal. For any trade involving Tyler, it would have to be to a team willing to meet his extension price and confident he would extend. So in many of the permutations forwarded in this direction, the math stops if a team is not willing to play by Tyler’s extension math.
Q: The Heat need someone with more of a complete set of skills for the four spot. I realize that is a tall order, but I have a lot of faith in Pat Riley. P.J. Tucker could come off the bench in the way Tyler Herro played most of the fourth quarters. – Roland, Borrego Springs, Calif.
A: I’m not sure there are better answers, at the Heat’s price point, at power forward than P.J. Tucker returning on his option year or something close to that $7.4 million figure. You can’t change everything, and there certainly were plenty of positive moments with P.J. as the starting power forward. In fact, just think back to the Philadelphia series, when Joel Embiid said he wished the 76ers had their own P.J. Tucker.
Q: It’s been awfully light on Heat draft talk. – Stephen.
A: There generally isn’t much hype when it comes to the No. 27 pick. And I’m still about 50-50 on whether the Heat utilize the pick or keep anyone from that spot. A tradeable draft pick is an awfully tantalizing commodity for Pat Riley. And the Heat certainly went out of their way with the Thunder at the NBA trading deadline to make sure they were in a position to potentially deal the pick, by deferring their first-round obligation to Oklahoma City.
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