IN THE LANE
GLARING OMISSION: All the perspective you need about the Cleveland Cavaliers’ decision to bypass their planned video tribute for Kyrie Irving at Tuesday’s home opener at Quicken Loans Arena is this: Even when stung by the timing of LeBron James‘ decision to return to Cleveland in 2014, the Heat nonetheless went forward with their James tribute upon his return, as they did last season with Dwyane Wade, after the 2016 offseason acrimony. Just as they had upon the returns of James Jones, Mario Chalmers, Mike Miller and others who moved on. Granted, unlike Irving, none had forced their way out with a trade demand. Still, the Cavaliers produced such a tribute video for Irving and then shelved the presentation. According to team spokesman Tad Carper, as reported by Cleveland.com, “We were expecting to run it at a floating opportunity based on the right moment, and we felt that moment never presented itself.” That’s one version, but Cleveland.com also reported that some Cleveland players did not want the presentation. So apparently video tributes in Cleveland are handled with introspection. Comic-sans emails? Not so much.
LESSON LEARNED: After serving as a mentor with the Heat, Detroit Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy said it was his turn during the offseason to take guidance from his former assistant, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra. Van Gundy said part of his approach this season will be allowing players to play to their strengths. Van Gundy cited how James Johnson expanded his game dramatically last season with the Heat, and how Wayne
Ellington was allowed by Spoelstra to play as more than a spot-up shooter. “They were always good,” Van Gundy told the Detroit News of the two, “but now they’re really good because he let James put the ball on the floor and be a playmaker, and he let Wayne just run off screens and fire.”
SUMMER SCORE: It may not have seemed like it at the time, especially when the Heat were winding up the Orlando Pro Summer League at 0-5, but that offseason roster apparently was loaded with NBA potential. Not only did Okaro White and Bam Adebayo further their development in July, but three players from that roster earned two-way contracts: Matt Williams Jr. with the Heat, Gian Clavell with the Dallas Mavericks and
London Perrantes with the Cavaliers. Derrick Walton Jr., who secured the second of the Heat’s two allowable two-way contracts, played summer league with the Orlando Magic. Among those Clavell beat out for the Mavericks’ two-way contract was P.J. Dozier, the higher-profile wing out of South Carolina.
ISAAC EXPOSED: At least with Bam Adebayo, the Heat first-round pick, he was left exposed by a common NBA prank, a team allowing a rookie to run out first for pregame warmups in his first game ... with no one following. By contrast, it was self-induced embarrassment for Magic first-round pick Jonathon
Isaac, who headed out to the court in full warmups, only to recognize at the start of Wednesday’s NBA debut against the Heat that he had forgotten to put on his jersey. “I was on the bench and I completely forgot my jersey,” the forward out of Florida State said. Magic equipment manager Rodney Powell rectified the omission by the time Isaac entered with 3:10 to play in the opening period.