ASK IRA: Is draft capital the key to a Heat revival?

Q: Given the players that would have to be shipped out to make a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade happen, would a core of Bam Adebayo and Giannis work well together, or would opponents pack the paint given the lack of 3-point shooters? – Bob, Juno Beach.

A: You then would build from that base. And it still is easier to find shooters than superstars. So you start with the star talent and then work from there. The Heat already have shown an ability to augment elite talent, as they did when they built around the Dwyane Wade-Shaquille O’Neal core and then the big Three of Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh.

Q: There are a lot of fans without much knowledge of their sport, who mostly react emotionally to wins and losses. There are the immediate reactions right after losing one game, and the reactions after a losing season or not having a top team. Those fans who must have a scapegoat(s) on whom to place blame. And so it is with those Heat fans who don’t like several play-in appearances in a row, who have decided that Pat Riley at 81 is in cognitive decline. Not because there’s evidence of decline, but only because they want a scapegoat for non-winning seasons. Anyone who watched Riley’s press conference last week with an unbiased, critical eye, would have seen a completely cogent, well-spoken, highly intelligent professional, who runs circles around any fan and most professionals in the business. And we still see Riley in the stands for every home game, carefully watching and evaluating all the players. He’s an excellent talent evaluator who hasn’t exhibited any decline in his ability to swing trades that bring more talent to the team than goes out. The thing that has made Riley stand head’and-shoulders above most. He saw talent in Davion where most evaluators saw 6 pts/game. – Morgan, New Orleans.

A: So you’re saying Pat Riley at any age knows more than those who post on Twitter, write blogs from their parents’ basement or fill the “Ask Ira” mailbag with snark and smug? Hmm. Interesting.