Q: Pat Riley said Bam Adebayo was untouchable. Can you please explain to me how and why? He said someone would have to give a lot of picks and Victor Wembanyama to get him to budge. Really? I mean if the Spurs offered Wembanyama for Bam he would refuse it? And this is where the Heat lose me, this adoration of a basketball player who is a very good player as opposed to a great player. If Bam was so good, and basically untradable why didn’t we win a championship when Jimmy Butler was here? Can you please explain it to me like I’m an 8-year-old, so I can understand, because I just don’t get it. So what am I missing, except he is a nice guy? – Brian, Miami.
A: What you are missing is the hyperbole of the moment, of hyping your own because why wouldn’t you in such a moment? Look, would the Heat trade Bam Adebayo for Nikola Jovic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luka Doncic? (Spoiler: They would.) And, yes, with draft picks for Victor Wembanyama. But at the moment, Bam also is the Heat’s best player, so you publicly treat him with the respect of being your foundation for your future. But as you note, if Bam truly was viewed as a superstar, then there wouldn’t be talk in the first place of searching for a star. Bam Adebayo is a No. 2 or No. 3 on a championship contender, which means he cannot be viewed as untouchable. But that doesn’t mean you can’t cast him as being untouchable. With all due respect, he is not Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Shaquille O’Neal.
Q: My point on Erik Spoelstra, it’s just strange to me. Steve Kerr with an even better resume, season ends, he speaks about how these jobs have shelf lives. That’s just considered normal to Warriors media and fan base. It’s NBA reality. But not Spo, he or Pat Riley or Heat media never go near the topic. – Tom.
A: Which in a way, answers your question. Steve Kerr is the one who opened the discussion about his future with the Warriors, just as Billy Donovan decided it was time to move on from the Bulls. These were not cases of management or media influence driving out elite-level coaches. Erik Spoelstra, in conversations both public and private, has shown no sign of burnout or consideration of moving on to the next thing. The passion is there and the passion is real. When that wanes, then such debate certainly would be merited. Now, just like players miss free throws, commit turnovers, yes, there have been coaching missteps. And, as mentioned with the front office, adding a disruptor to Spoelstra’s staff could potentially provide a jolt (although a case could be made that was done with the addition of Noah LaRoche and the adoption of LaRoche’s movement offense). But when debating where this has gone south, the perspective here is it still is more a matter of the roster. How many coaches in this league win without a superstar?
Q: It sure sounds as if Pat Riley does not have the stomach for a major overhaul? Isn’t it time to take the keys to the car? – Bob, Davie.
A: But the reality is that no one in the organization has voiced the stomach from an overhaul. So it’s not just Pat Riley. This is an organization that seems to be in lockstep in the win-now mentality.