Q: Ira, we’re all guilty, myself included, in free agency when we want everything done right away. But look at the Heat. If they waited, they could have gotten Lonnie Walker IV for the minimum.
Instead, they rushed out to sign Alec Burks. – Anderson. A: Except all is not so simple.
Because you also can play the waiting game and wind up without any of your options. Plus, just because Lonnie Walker IV took a non-guaranteed minimum deal from the defending NBA champions doesn’t necessarily mean he would have taken the same to return to his collegiate town to play for a team that has been in the play-in round the past two seasons. That said, there were a bunch of curious Heat early signings, from the Burks agreement to the seeming wink-wink with Thomas Bryant.
And if even one of those wasn’t done, they could have been an opportunity to better address point guard with Dennis Smith Jr. But also understand that the Heat are privy to discussions with agents that we are not, including the mindset of players and the initial contract demands. Yes, the Heat have benefited by waiting over the years, with Gary Payton a prime example of a late-offseason signing back in the day.
But these also are different times, where payrolls can get rapidly frozen, almost in a hard-cap sense. In that regard, it’s as if an entire league is readjusting to the new workplace rules under this latest CBA. Related Articles Q: The Celtics have a great chance of going back-to-back.
Why would Miami pass the second apron? – Gus. A: This was in response to the Celtics’ move for Walker (if he is retained after camp, and therefore guaranteed), which puts them even deeper into the most punitive apron of the luxury tax. And while reality at times can be difficult to digest, at the moment it’s not as if a minimum-scale player is going to lift the Heat to the heights of contention.
Now, there will be a time later this season (and possibly sooner if there is a trade) when the Heat will regain such wherewithal to add a 15th player on a standard deal, but this roster also is in a place when it first has to prove itself. The Celtics have proven themselves. Q: Steph Curry got another year on his contract Thursday while the Heat are making Jimmy Butler wait.
How do you think that plays out? – Eddie. A: A constant with Jimmy Butler, and even his agent, when it comes to contracts and salaries, is that it comes down to a belief of self worth. And, of course, Jimmy holds himself in quite the esteem.
But I can’t recall a case, other than typical Jimmy mockery (hello, Tobias Harris), when Jimmy has conducted his contract negotiations as a comparative exercise. Of course, with maximum-salary standards, there’s only so much negotiation these days, anyway..
