Q: Ira, would you make this trade, with Bill Simmons’ trade idea: Charlotte Hornets receive: Bam Adebayo. Miami Heat receive: Miles Bridges, Grant Williams, 2026 1st-round pick (lottery), 2027 1st-round pick (via Heat), 2027 1st-round pick (via Mavericks), 2029 1st-round pick. – Brian, Miami.A: I would look at this similar to how the Bucks might look at a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, that if you want a team’s star, you better be willing to meet the asking price of the team sending out the star. So while the picks matter, especially getting back that 2027 pick (in order to free up all future first-rounders), it would only be a framework.
First, make the Hornets take on Nikola Jovic’s contract (arguably the Heat’s only bad money at the moment). Then, as the Bucks would with a Heat bid for Giannis, start insisting on some of Charlotte’s young talent. While Kon Knueppel would be off the table, at least ask about Brandon Miller.
Once that is shot down, at least check into Ryan Kalkbrenner and, perhaps, Liam McNeeley or even Moussa Diabate. The point being that if you are going to reset and restart, then shoot for the stars, just as the Bucks would attempt with Giannis. As for the notion of the Heat refusing to deal with the Hornets after the Terry Rozier fiasco, that is nonsense.
You find the best deals and you don’t let it get personal, anything to the contrary would be malpractice.Related Articles Submit your “Ask Ira” question here! Q: This was the worst team in the NBA that tried/didn’t tank; your words. And we all know that the win-loss record was inflated by all the tanking teams.
So how do you justify those grades? Bam A-, Wiggins B+, Herro B-. The highest-paid guys on the team should bear more responsibility for the result. – John, Ocala.A: Because you win with A and A+ talent.
That’s what the Pistons have in Cade Cunningham, the Celtics with Jaylen Brown/Jayson Tatum, the Knicks with Jalen Brunson, the Cavaliers with Donovan Mitchell, the Thunder with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Spurs with Victor Wembayama, the Nuggets with Nikola Jokic, the Timberwolves with Anthony Edwards. Otherwise, you’re just continuing to push that bolder up the hill, as the Heat have been doing with their A-, B+ and B- talent. Good players get you 43-39.
Great players get you in contention.Q: With all due respect to “The Godfather,” we are tired of words. We want to see action. – Halo.A: Which is why Pat Riley’s annual media session, such as the one scheduled for 1 p.m. Monday at Kaseya Center, tends to be more performative than transformative. At this point, actions have to speak far louder than words.