ASK IRA: Nikola Jovic’s place can’t be in Heat’s perimeter rotation – there isn’t room
Q: The Miami Heat are ruining Nikola Jovic’s career. He would be starting on many teams by now. He would be allowed to shoot, to have a few stinkers, but to improve and shine, too. Look at what happened with Omer Yurtseven. Miami killed his career, now he needs to prove himself to get paid. – Ivan.
A: I actually enjoy these types of questions that are both asked and answered. This all, of course, was the outgrowth of the interview that Nikola Jovic gave to a Serbian-language outlet that got lost in the translation, and that Nikola has since clarified. Yes, he wants to play. Yes, he likely is miscast as a power player in light of his skill set. But the reality is simple and is this: There is no room at the inn for Nikola in the Heat’s wing rotation, but there could be time eventually in the power mix. When it comes to the wing rotation, he is not playing ahead of Jimmy Butler, Kyle Lowry, Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Duncan Robinson, Josh Richardson and you can even throw Caleb Martin and Haywood Highsmith in there. So that makes him the ninth option on the wing. But in the power rotation, nothing is a given beyond Bam Adebayo and Kevin Love. So in the injury absence of one of those two, the big-muscle opportunity might be there, particularly with the struggles of Thomas Bryant. Now, is it more fun to push the ball, play in transition, and loft threes than trade elbows? Heck, yeah. But if a perimeter opportunity is what Nikola wants at the moment, then that can be arranged in the G League. He is 20. Remember how it started for Dirk Nowitzki (not that we’re making that comparison)? He initially also was asked to bide his time, and he entered the NBA a year older than Nikola. Heck, Giannis Antetokounmpo only started 23 games as a rookie. It is hard for any player in that situation, but it also is about giving it time. As for your question, there was outside similar sentiment to play Omer Yurtseven, and considerable consternation about Erik Spoelstra’s approach with the Turkish big man. As it is, Big Yurt has appeared in 10 games for an average of 9.1 minutes for the Jazz this season. So it’s not as if spreading his wings elsewhere has set him free. Patience often is hard. Is also often is necessary.
Q: Nikola Jovic is not a center. I’m looking at the talent and he’s continually used wrong. He’s just an oversized point guard. I’d bet defensively he would cover point guards better than he does wings and centers, too (although just a tad slow footed). He’s a European Magic (I’m not saying he’s on that level) that can shoot, if they groomed him that way. But instead we’re wasting time at center. – Swann.
A: And who exactly would Nikola Jovic guard if cast in a wing role? The only way that works is if you play Bam Adebayo defensively on the wing and have Nikola defend an opposing big man. And you know what? Then you’re basically playing Nikola at center. Yes, you could go to zone, but that’s not a base defense.
Q: I saw a video of Tyler Herro shooting without any wrappings on his ankle. – T.O.
A: Which is a starting point. But as Erik Spoelstra would say, it’s also a process. The fact that the Heat are home for a week for the first time in over a month means there can be viable practice time. So Tyler Herro is getting close, just not quite there.