Q: The mid-level exception may not exist under the new CBA, but there are plenty of veterans who could be available for the minimum. What name intrigues you the most that realistically fits into that price range? Guys like Grant Hill and Shane Battier have to come to mind. — Tamra.
A: Both are good names, and both figure to value winning above all (although I doubt any of those you mention settle for the minimum). While some worry about continuing down this path of 30-somethings, I think that is exactly where the Heat stand, consistently infusing 30-something upgrades with short-term contracts to support the team’s stars. To a degree, Hill and Battier would make the Heat younger after a season with Juwan Howard and Erick Dampier.
Q: Why haven’t there been any CBA updates since the lockout began? Have the sides stopped negotiating? If so, when will the negotiations pick up again? — Johnny.
A: The sides are taking a “break,”
which might not be the worst idea right now. Again, there is plenty of time, as long as both parties are actually willing to negotiate. But if the owners insist on having to “win,”
then it practically makes negotiations moot.
Q: When can we expect Riley to begin his recruiting magic on Dalembert? The sooner the better, right? — Kevin.
A: Yes, Pat has already cut a $1 million check to the NBA for the tampering fine amid the lockout and is sitting, at this very moment, in Sam’s home in Boca Raton, promising him Jamaal Magloire’s locker stall.
Q: I’m afraid we are in for a lengthy stalemate and could possibly lose the entire season. If this happens, how does the 2012 draft order get decided? Is there even a scenario for that? — Ray.
A: Considering the lottery was developed to prevent teams from tanking, and considering there would be no tanking in a lost season, I would think it would merely go in inverse order of the previous season played, in this case 2010-11.
Q: Ira, I come back every day, multiple times a day, with my favorite section “Ask Ira.”
So, since we are in lockout status, don’t you think “Ask Ira”
should be 10 questions a day? I mean Dwayne Wade is doing Bar Mitzvahs for crying out loud. — Sean.
A: Actually, because I’m doing Bar Mitzvahs, also, as well as performing the occasional circumcision, my time remains somewhat limited.
