ASK IRA: Was Dru Smith the better Heat choice over Haywood Highsmith?

Q: Ira, be honest, if you had to make a decision, who would you rather keep: Haywood Highsmith or Dru Smith? David.A: Only its not that simple, considering Dru Smith will count less than half against the tax/cap this season than Haywood Highsmith would have.

And based on where the Heat stood against the tax, that matters.

So the real question should be something closer to: Which would you rather have Haywood Highsmith or Dru Smith plus an additional player you can sign during the season and still stay under the tax? So, for the sake of this exercise, the question could be closer to Highsmith or Smith plus an additional big man for the power rotation, Kai Jones or otherwise? Straight up, considering the Heats glut on the wing, I would rather have Haywoods defensive chops.

But when the tax factors in, a case certainly can be made for depth.

Ultimately, it could come down to what Dru looks like in his return.

But it still seems as if the Heat did not need to add a sweetener (a 2032 second-round pick) in order to offload Haywood, that patience might have proven prudent.Related Articles Submit your Ask Ira question here! Q: Kai Jones next? Jin.A: Not immediately next.

And quite possibly not at all.

At the moment, the Heat do not have enough space below the luxury tax to add a 15th player on a standard contract until they get into the season, when the prorated amount can be slotted in below the tax threshold.

That math would change if the Heat were to stretch a player by the Aug.

29 waive/stretch deadline.

But if that were to be the case, then it is possible the Heat might not have needed to waive Haywood Highsmith in the first place.Q: Winning is no longer a factor in Miami, only money.

Predictably, the teams not going to win a championship ever again.

Vip.A: And if there were not tax/apron implications beyond money, then a stronger argument certainly could be made for such a claim.

But the way the NBAs collective-bargaining agreement is written, there are accompanying tax/apron restrictions that also impact the way a team can conduct business once it moves into the tax and above the aprons.

So, in the case of Haywood Highsmith and the tax, it is more than a money issue, it also becomes a front-office concern.

Flexibility also was at play..

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