Q: It’s time for a new culture carrier. – Ira.
A: Which is what this season-ending tribute to Udonis Haslem is all about, recognizing the end of an era and then beginning the search for another carrier of the culture torch. Often that is the senior member of the team in terms of age. But Kyle Lowry, at 37, is more about still finding his place with the team. Often it is a team’s best player. But Jimmy Butler tends to be off on his own once the game clock is off. Ultimately, it has to be a player who is viewed as a face of the franchise going forward. That seemingly would have Bam Adebayo as the next in line. And it is a role Bam says he covets. Now all he has to do is live up to a 20-season legacy. In a best-case scenario, Jimmy would assume that mantle, but he appears to have little desire for such.
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Q: No Omer Yurtseven. No Victor Oladipo. I missed the Final Four for this? – Xavier.
A: Based on the way the final week of the season looks like it’s setting up, it is possible that with one or two games remaining, the Heat will be locked into the No. 7 seed. If that becomes the case, you could at the close of the season see a starting lineup of Omer Yurtseven, Udonis Haslem, Jamal Cain, Duncan Robinson and Victor Oladipo, with the rotation players being rested and kept away from injuries.
Q: Can we keep Cody Zeller? – Felipe.
A: I doubt Cody Zeller, based on his brief return so close to the end of the season, attracts more than a minimum salary in the offseason. So it could come down to if the Heat prioritize retaining Cody over Omer Yurtseven. We should get a preview of that thinking when it comes to the Heat having to extend a $2.2 million qualifying offer by that deadline at the end of June.
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