Q: Kel’el Ware looks like he can be a big star if he plays on a regular basis. When is it up to the player to tell the coach you’re stunting my career by keeping me on the bench? I realize he’s only in his second year. I hope we don’t retard his growth by having him come off the bench – Vic.
A: Kel’el Ware turned 21 in April, so perhaps a bit of patience? Also, don’t get caught up in the starting role. This team has so much lineup versatility that that likely will remain fluid. Instead, consider the playing time. And in Wednesday night’s victory over the Bucks, Erik Spoelstra was intentional about getting Kel’el on the court with Bam Adebayo at times. That will be the key, that it doesn’t stand solely as either/or with Bam and Kel’el, considering Bam is assured at least 30 minutes per game, which would leave Kel’el with no more than 18. Also consider that two nights earlier against Dallas, Kel’el played more than Bam. Then, Wednesday, Kel’el played 26 minutes in reserve, which also seems reasonable at this stage of his career.
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Q: So we just gave $62 million over four years to Nikola Jovic to be a 10th or 11th man, likely a bench warmer? So tell me Ira, how is that well-managed money when clearly this team has other glaring needs . – Jerry, Miami.
A: Actually, his team has a need that they saw he could fulfill, versatile length. And at the time of the signing, Nikola Jovic was coming off a solid summer with Serbia’s national team, showing much of that versatile length. Remember, for as long as he already has been around since going in the 2022 first round, Nikola just turned 22 in June. There is room for growth and maturation, both of which remain possible, and seemingly also needed. And also consider that his four-year, $62.4 million extension does not kick in until next season. The bottom line is that by signing Nikola to what will be less than the money for the mid-level exception in future seasons, value still can be realized.
Q: Take Tyler Herro off the defensive-liability list. He looks like a totally different defender now, sliding his feet, chesting up, instead of reaching. He has obviously studied Davion Mitchell and Andrew Wiggins. And perhaps his repaired foot and ankle is allowing him to slide more than before. – Tom.
A: Not sure I would go there after two games. Dallas went out of its way to call up Tyler Herro defensively in late-game situations. You’ll know that the defensive respect for Tyler has grown when that doesn’t become an automatic for opposing offense. At the moment, it still is looking that way (again, with a limited sample size to this point).
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