​Hi, Ira. LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo in Miami? Egos, Egos, Egos. – Alan, Apollo Beach. A: And? Often, greatness comes with ego. LeBron James has already played with and won alongside egos like Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love, and Anthony Davis—these are some of his leading-men championship partners, and you’d be surprised how many supporting players carry outsized egos too. It’s possible that, even with Giannis Antetokounmpo, LeBron might find this Heat locker room has less ego than several other environments he’s shared. Erik Spoelstra has shown remarkable skill at handling egos, a quality that helps explain why he’s being considered for the next Team USA Olympic coach. The simplest antidote to ego is success: when you win, egos can coexist; when you don’t, egos tend to clash. And let’s face it, if the Heat don’t win with this mix, then the topic won’t be just ego; real questions and scrutiny will follow about the roster and the approach.
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Submit your “Ask Ira” question here! Q: Did Pat Riley tip his hand when he said we still need a shooter and a big? – Smiley. A: Only if he hinted that the Heat aren’t getting LeBron James. Given their finances, the Heat are likely to carry 14 players on standard contracts to start the season to preserve flexibility under the hard cap. So if LeBron James comes aboard, there may be room for only one more player. In that case, would LeBron count as the shooter or the big man?
Q: Any thoughts on draft pick Ryan Conwell, if he’s impressed you so far in Summer League given the limited sample size? – Rodney. A: He’s shown promise for a second-round pick, no doubt. But Pat Riley has emphasized that the Heat are back in win-now mode with championship aspirations. That could mean development happens outside of heavy game minutes, and it might even mean that Dru Smith could see time over Ryan Conwell as the team prioritizes immediate results over long-term progression.