ASK IRA: Will Heat have to play defense against Knicks at NBA trading deadline?

Q: Ira, do the Heat have to play defense against the Knicks? If they get O.G. Anunoby, it would make them better than the Heat. Then we’d be in the play-in. – Ant.

A: First, while the Heat certainly are capable of quality defense against the Knicks on the court, it’s not quite as easy for Pat Riley and Andy Elisburg when it comes to a competitive package of draft picks. The Knicks have a far deeper pool in that regard. And beyond that, picks belonging to the Knicks might be perceived as more attractive because, well, the Knicks are the Knicks. Beyond that, while O.G. Anunoby would be a quality piece for any rotation, he also is more of a defender than necessarily the type of scorer the Heat need. Even if the Knicks were able to land O.G. for draft capital, I’m not sure anyone would immediately consider New York as a clearly superior team to the current Heat mix. For now, it’s about Thursday’s game at Madison Square Garden and the Heat creating more separation at No. 6 in the East standings.

Q: Hi Ira, is it coincidence or is the trend suggestive, that when Kyle Lowry was replaced by Game Vincent for the fourth quarter in the last three out of four games the Heat won, whereas the one game where Erik Spoelstra tried to go with Lowry in the fourth, they lost? I wonder whether if they started Vincent and brought in Victor Oladipo as his replacement and then used Lowry for a few spots per game, minimizing his court time, whether that would increase the Heat’s win percentage? – Ted Miami.

A: From a strategic standpoint, there arguably is merit to your suggestion, although I’m not sure that Victor Oladipo has the necessary point guard instincts. But an NBA rotation transcends strategy. It also has to factor in personalities. And there is no way you would get anything – yes, even less than now – if you were to move Kyle Lowry to the bench. For more than a decade, if he plays, he starts. Kyle has started the last 676 games that he has appeared. So, for now, I think you bide your time at least until after next Thursday’s NBA trade deadline. And even then, you would be dealing with a player who has another season left on his contract. This is as much a chemistry issue as it is a rotation issue.

Q: Ira, do you think the Tyler Herro hype is just that, hype? You read about what an amazing scorer he is, but he isn’t consistent. Don’t you think he fits better with the second unit? And do you think he will eventually be traded? When did scoring 20 points with a low percentage of made baskets become “max” talent? I would love to hear your thoughts about Tyler. – Brian, Miami.

A: Based on salary-cap rules, we know he almost assuredly will not be dealt this season. So any future trade thought, including this summer, could come down to how the season and postseason play out. But this also is where the NBA stands today, where scoring trumps all. Many of the league’s elite players are lacking on the defensive end. And, again, don’t equate salary with player value. That is merely a case of what the market dictates.

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