ASK IRA: Could Heat put a deal together for Kemba Walker?

Q: I know you normally don’t address trade questions, but please consider this one. With the recent news of Charlotte considering attaching Kemba Walker onto a trade to unload some of their bad contracts, could this be an opportunity for the Heat to step in and add an All-Star-caliber asset? With the lack of draft picks in Heat’s possession and the need for additional primary ballhandlers to assist Goran Dragic, it would seem only fitting to try to trade from a position of strength, which is our frontcourt. I love Hassan Whiteside and Justise Winslow, but if trading them both and smaller contracts to attain Kemba and a bad contract such as Dwight Howard or Nic Batum, I think it would be something the Heat have to consider, even if attaching a future pick. — Victor, Bethlehem, Pa.

A: First, the Heat cannot attach a first-round pick until their 2023 selection, so I don’t know how appetizing that would be. Second, if the goal by the Hornets is to offload salary, then Whiteside would not appear to make much sense. Beyond that, the Heat are lacking in attractive expiring contracts when it comes to a Charlotte trade partner freeing up offseason cap space. But putting the cap aside, if the Hornets were to deal with the Heat, I would think the preference would be Bam Adebayo over Whiteside, due to simple economics. And, unfortunately, about the only viable cap filler for the Heat at the moment would be Wayne Ellington. So would you trade Justise Winslow, Bam Adebayo and Wayne Ellington for Kemba Walker? And if you do, and move Goran to shooting guard, then what do you do with Tyler Johnson, Dion Waiters, Josh Richardson and Rodney McGruder? Don’t get me wrong, I like Kemba. But Pat Riley has never been big on smallish guards. Now, if Charlotte was willing to take on Tyler Johnson, that might be another story, but that hardly plays to the Hornets’ priorities when it comes to salary.

Q: Do the coaches who pick the All-Star reserves look at more stats than just points, assists, rebounds per game? If you compare Kristaps Porzingis with Hassan Whiteside, it would seem like a no brainier that Porzingis would be chosen over him. But if you look closer, Porzingis takes 19.4 shots per game compared to Whiteside’s 10.4 shots per game. Give Whiteside 19.4 shots per game and he would average 26.67 points per game. Efficiency equals winning basketball and should count for something. — Dave, Placentia, Calif.

A: But Hassan also has missed 18 games, so I don’t think he can even be a factor. I believe coaches prioritize winning, which is why I believe the Heat have a better-than-expected chance to land an All-Star, with that All-Star being Goran Dragic. As the Heat have pointed out in their media notes, no top-four team in the East at the time of the All-Star Game has gone without an All-Star over the past 25 years.

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Q: I know it’s a small sample size, but Justise Winslow’s 3-point percentage quietly has become among the most accurate among the rotation players. Could it be that he’s possibly becoming the 3-and-D player that we were hoping? — Adam, Boynton Beach.

A: If that is the end game, then yes. But I believe Justise wants to be far more, would not be content being cast into such a role, as a second-coming of Bruce Bowen or Keith Askins. So the question becomes whether he helps or hinders when he tries to do more, including his uneven attack efforts and struggles finishing at the rim.

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