Atlanta Hawks vs Cleveland Cavaliers - Full Game Highlights | Game 1 | May 2, 2016 | NBA Playoffs
Q: Ira, after watching the Cavaliers on Tuesday, perhaps we were better escaping with our dignity. -- Graham.
A: Perhaps. But what bothers me is the insinuation is that the Eastern Conference never was going to produce competition for the Cavaliers this season. Yes, had the Heat moved on from a Game 7 victory in Toronto and then played the Cavaliers on one day of rest, I agree the result would have been similar to what the Raptors endured in Game 1. But. And there is a big but there (and sometimes I like big buts and I cannot lie), because when assessing what could have been you also have to assess what Heat-Cavaliers could have looked like if at least Hassan Whiteside was available, and perhaps even Chris Bosh. With Whiteside, the Heat would have had the type of second line of defense that dunk-at-will LeBron James never had to face in Game 1 against the Raptors (and even if Jonas Valanciunas was available for Toronto, he is not the deterrent that Whiteside has been). And if the Cavaliers stayed with Tristan Thompson at center in a theoretical series against the Heat, it would have allowed the Whiteside to essentially park himself in the paint. Factor in Bosh, had he been available, and you also would have had somewhat of a counter for Kevin Love. Look, these Cavaliers are on a mission, and they were overwhelming in Game 1, but to see the East again is down and there never was going to be competition for the Cavaliers is B.S. A Heat team with Whiteside and Bosh would have offered something far more compelling than we likely will see at any point of Cavaliers-Raptors until it comes to its merciful end.
Q: If we lose Hassan Whiteside, I think the Heat should pursue Al Horford and/or Pau Gasol. What do you think? -- Pablo, Harrisonburg, Va.
A: First, we won"t know about Hassan until we know in July. But if Whiteside does move on, then I think the Heat will find themselves at a major crossroads: Do they remain in something close to win-now mode to maximize Dwyane Wade"s final years? Or do they either turn to youth or even put off a major free-agency strike until the 2017 offseason, when it is possible that Chris Bosh"s salary comes off their luxury tax? The 2017 free-agency pool is far more compelling than what is available this summer beyond the Kevin Durant pipe dream. But Wade, even with his rejuvenated play this season, only has so many miles left in those knees. That"s why I believe it is so important to retain Hassan, since you still could deal him in the 2017 offseason, if that is when you decide to instead maximize cap space.
Q: If the Heat are still in the win-now mode (and why would they not be?), wouldn"t Micky Arison be willing to open his wallet and pay Dwyane Wade, Hassan Whiteside and Kevin Durant? A lot of talk has been about staying under the cap, but I never heard any talk about possibly paying a luxury tax. Is that completely off the table? -- David, Plantation.
A: You are confusing the salary cap with the luxury tax, which basically is a mechanism that comes into play when you are re-signing your own free agents who have Bird Rights. Because Whiteside does not have full Bird Rights, he basically counts, for cap purposes, as an outside free agent. And when signing someone in Whiteside"s position or a Kevin Durant or other outside free agent, you have to make you entire roster mostly work under the salary cap, which is expected to fall in the $92 million range for 2016-17. And that"s that. There is no spending over the cap in that situation because you are willing to pay the tax. Apples and oranges. So, for the purposes of your question, if Whiteside or Durant (or another outside free agent) is part of the Heat"s plans, then the Heat have to wind up around that $92 million cap (there is a small degree of wiggle room because the NBA has a "soft" cap). Now, if the Heat decide this offseason to only lock up Wade, Luol Deng, Joe Johnson and the team"s free agents from the 2015-16 roster (including Udonis Haslem), then, yes, they could spend into the luxury-tax stratosphere for 2016-17. But it also would mean no incoming outside talent and no Whiteside.
Source: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-heat/heat-blog/sfl-miami-heat-ask-ira-cleveland-cavaliers-s051916-story.html
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