ASK IRA: Is Haywood Highsmith the Heat’s silver lining?

Q: I’ve come around on Haywood Highsmith. That was sweet on both ends against the Nets. Wish the rest of the Heat played that hard. – Henry.

A: Especially considering it was his first game back from a preseason knee injury. While there has been discussion of Haywood Highsmith starting at power power, that still seems a bit premature, particularly against bigger big men. A more likely role could be perimeter stopper, in a 3-and-D role. But, again, it’s a matter of first seeing what the Heat look like when closer to complete. And that will require Caleb Martin getting back in the mix. The combination of Highsmith and Martin could lead to reconsideration of the current roles of Kevin Love and Josh Richardson. No, not the sexiest names, but players who might just be the ones to better complement Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro.

Q: Ira, we’re five games in and Kevin Love has missed two of the last three. Maybe they’re better off not starting a 35-year-old power forward? – Alan.

A: Perhaps. And perhaps if Caleb Martin didn’t enter training camp with knee pain and if Haywood Highsmith didn’t deal with a knee issue during the preseason, maybe he wouldn’t have been. I think Erik Spoelstra wanted to give Kevin Love first crack at the starting role. But if something better comes along, there long has been a willingness for change. The problem now, as it was last season when Kevin arrived, is there isn’t much bulk otherwise to play at power rotation. And even with Nikola Jovic’s length, we saw him tossed around in Minnesota by Rudy Gobert.

Q: This team is horrible. The Josh Richards acquisition has been a failure and Jimmy Butler doesn’t have the fight for another season after coming up short again and getting no help. – Jay.

A: Such is always the risk of building around 30-somethings.