Q: This looks more like the team at the beginning of the year. A lot of players have made a lot of contributions. The Detroit game should be a good one. – Douglas.
A: Remember, Jalen Duren was sidelined with a leg contusion during Detroit’s 138-135 win over the Pistons on Nov. 29 at the Cassia Center. Still, it was a remarkable ending for the Heat, who came back from a 15-point deficit with 3:15 left to tie the game before Cade Cunningham hit a jumper with 20.2 seconds left to finish with 29 points. While the scoring was up in that one, it will be a physical test for the Heat given the competition from Duren and Isaiah Stewart. The Heat have recently had close encounters with the Knicks and Celtics on the road, their latest chance to show what they have (or don’t have) against the Eastern Conference’s powerhouses.
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Q: Ella, come on. There is zero chance that Tyler Herro will agree to play out the final year of his contract without extending it. – database
A: Well, he has no choice because the 2026-27 season is not a player option. Now, he could act like Jimmy Butler in what may be the final year of his contract, but Tyler Herro has stressed that’s not his style. It would seem to make sense for both parties to play out next season and then address Taylor’s new salary in 2027 free agency. In a way, Taylor is also betting on himself that he will be healthy and breakout in 2026-27. Currently, Taylor is barely getting an extension that he thinks he’s worth.
Q: Why wasn’t Vlade Golding given a few minutes to evaluate the Heat’s investment in a two-way contract, given the Heat’s need for bulk and size as a backup to Kyle Weir? –Robert.
Answer: Typically, both parties provide a two-way contract from a long-term perspective. Therefore, the addition of Vlad Goldin is not temporary, but future. That said, Vlade’s lack of agility for his incredible size means employing a specific defensive style that doesn’t quite fit into a power rotation featuring Bam Adebayo, Kyle Ware or even Nikola Jovic. What Flood has to do, whether in the G League or in Heat workouts, is to prove that his game is good enough for the Heat to adjust their defense to his needs. What I will say is that he showed more ability to shoot three-pointers in practice, which is what people expected.