Q: Ira, I think you’re missing the point when asked about Duncan Robinson and Delon Wright and the rotation. Terry Rozer and Josh Richardson are out. So what we’re asking is about right now with Duncan and Delon. That’s what you need to address. – Tim.
A: Actually, that’s what Erik Spoelstra needs to address, with the answer coming when the Heat resume their schedule Friday night against the New Orleans Pelicans at the start of their four-game trip. So let’s start with the assumption that Jimmy Butler is back and ready to go (which certainly appears the case based on his workout videos on Instagram). That has Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro and Jimmy locked into the starting lineup. With Terry Rozier still out with his knee strain, Duncan Robinson would make sense from a shooting standpoint, although the defense could be at issue. Still, something along the lines of Bam, Jimmy, Tyler, Duncan and Caleb Martin or Haywood Highsmith would make sense (I can’t see throwing Nikola Jovic in there against Zion Williamson). As for Delon Wright, he might get the minutes that went to Jamal Cain in the finale before the All-Star break. But that also was a game that Jimmy missed. If Spoelstra keeps it eight deep, it still could wind up being limited to Adebayo Martin, Butler, Herro, Robinson, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kevin Love and Haywood Highsmith. The Pelicans game comes after an eight-day break, with two days off to follow. More telling could be Spoelstra’s rotation in the Monday-Tuesday back-to-back at Sacramento and Portland that follows on the four-game trip.
Q: How do we keep getting away with this? Our scouting and development program are possibly a top-three department in the world, not just sports. This Alondes Williams kid is oozing with talent. The NBA is going to hate the Heat next season. – Swann.
A: With the Terry Rozier and Josh Richardson injuries, I thought there was a decent chance that Alondes Williams could get some run during the upcoming trip, after a couple of days with the Heat to get his feet wet before the All-Star break. Now, with Delon Wright aboard, I’m not sure the rotation math will work for Alondes. What will be most interesting is to see which of the three two-way players the Heat convert to a longer-term standard deal by season’s end in order to continue the developmental progression (a move that would come at minimal luxury-tax cost if done late in the season at the cost of Dru Smith’s roster spot).
Q: With Delon Wright joining the Heat after Dorell Wright played here, have the Heat ever had brothers on the team before? – Andy.
A: Yes, including once at the same time, with Goran Dragic and Zoran Dragic with the team at the end of the 2014-15 season, having been acquired together from the Suns at that season’s trading deadline. Also, not at the same time, but similar to this Delon/Dorell Wright combination, the Heat had Willie Anderson on the roster in 1996-97 and then brother Shandon Anderson on the roster in 2004-05 and 2005-06.
