Q: Ira, Steph Curry at the Olympics showed how much a 3-point shooter matters. I say start Duncan Robinson next season. You need that threat on the court at all times in today’s game. – Nick.
A: I’m not sure I’m ready to compare at the moment, with all due respect, Duncan Robinson to Stephen Curry. But your point is appreciated, how a single 3-point shooter can dramatically impact a game, as Steph Curry did in the Olympic title game. The issue for the Heat is that other than starting Jimmy Butler at power forward – which I’m sure he would resist – starting Duncan would mean playing either Tyler Herro or Terry Rozier off the bench. So then you either would be playing one of your highest-paid players (Tyler) or a player you acquired at the cost of a valuable first-round pick (Terry) as sixth man. While that remains possible, the politics do matter in such an equation. All of that said, without Duncan Robinson’s presence, spacing again figures to be a considerable issue for the Heat, with all due respect to the efforts by Jimmy and Bam Adebayo to extend their ranges.
Q: Agreed, D-Wade was great. Easy transition to the analyst seat just as it was for his TV game show and TNT on Tuesday nights. Will be interesting to see if Wade wants a full-time analyst gig. Seems he likes his freedom to roam for his next adventure. – Douglas.
A: But Dwyane Wade was too good during the Olympics not to land in a prime analyst seat somewhere. I could perhaps see him on one of the once-a-week specially packaged games, be that on NBC or Prime in two seasons, when the new television packages kick in, sort of like the deal that Troy Aikman has on Monday Night Football or where Tom Brady is heading in his new NFL deal.
Q: Our Michael Beasley? Wow. – Pipsy.
A: Yes, headed to next weekend’s Big3 championship game in Boston, after hitting the game-winning 3-pointer on Sunday. And he’s going there with Mario Chalmers alongside as a teammate. Perhaps Olympic 3X3 in 2028? That would be super cool.
