ASK IRA: Does Knicks euphoria on quarter-century breakthrough also add perspective to 25 years of Heat?

Q: Does an NBA Eastern Conference Finals appearance for the Knicks, the first time in twenty-five years, give Miami Heat fans a chance to appreciate how special things have been in Miami?   – Stuart, Miami.

A: As I watched the celebrations in New York after the Knicks defeated the Celtics to advance to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2000, it did create pause to consider that over that same quarter century, the Heat have been to at least the East finals nine times, more than a third of those seasons. And that should create pause for those who view the sky as falling for the Heat. Sometimes you can get spoiled. And while the grass can look greener in the wake of a 37-45 10th-place finish, there needs to be perspective of ample final-four runs.

Q: Ira, since Denver beat us in the 2023 NBA Finals, they have gone one round deeper than the Heat each of the two seasons after. Here it’s a disaster; there it’s a solid playoff run. What am I missing? – Red.

A: Foremost, that Denver made it to a Game 7 of the second round this season on Sunday against the Thunder and also went to a Game 7 in the second round last season against the Timberwolves. And that’s in the much tougher Western Conference. That’s what happens when you have an MVP-level talent to build around, in Nikola Jokic. And that’s why the Heat remain somewhat questioned in the wake of that run to the 2023 NBA Finals against the Nuggets. It’s a lot easier to remain playoff-level competitive when you are trying to surround greatness (Nuggets) than when lacking a franchise cornerstone (Heat). Denver finished 13 games ahead of the Heat this season. That matters.

Q: I am a longtime season-ticket holder (that checks a box you mentioned in the past). I am a huge fan of what Pat Riley has done for this franchise and still can. He’s referred to as the Godfather for a reason. Riley needs to look into his past: LA Lakers. Magic Johnson; NY Knicks, Patrick Ewing; Miami Heat, Dwyane Wade. All that success emanated from a high draft pick. As witnessed by the success of San Antonio, it’s time to realize where the success came from. I say trade this year’s pick for a possible better future pick and tank the next two years unless we can acquire a young talent with huge upside potential. Get two great draft picks. Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo will still be young enough at that point and then unleash Pat’s deal making. What say you, Ira? – Allan, Delray Beach.

A: That such an approach would be playing with fire, since the Heat’s 2028 first-round pick then would go to the Hornets unprotected (from the Terry Rozier trade). So you still would leave yourself open to the most vulnerable possible draft position. Plus engineering failure provides no guarantee of the Magic Johnson, Patrick Ewing, Dwyane Wade level. Consider all the losing of the Jazz and Wizards this past season, and consider that all that got them were the Nos. 5 and 6 picks, respectively. In some ways, Wade falling even to No. 5 was an outlier (thank you, Darko Milicic). Based on lottery odds, two years of abject losing might (but only might) get you a top-three pick. It still could leave you nowhere, then with that unprotected obligation to Charlotte still due.