IN THE LANE

SOLVING THE Js: For as much faith as the Celtics showed in JaylenBrown with his massive contract extension, it is not necessarily a move that needs to be immediately countered. This is not the Heat attempting to come up with answers for Giannis Antetokounmpo ahead of playoff matchups against the Milwaukee Bucks or even for Kevin Durant when he was with the Brooklyn Nets. With Kristaps Porzingis in but Marcus Smart and Grant Williams out, the Celtics are more different than necessarily upgraded. Still, it will be interesting to see the Heat approach going forward with Caleb Martin, who has been mentioned in Damian Lillard trade rumors and who can opt into free agency next summer. Arguably the MVP of this past season’s Eastern Conference finals (an award that went to Jimmy Butler by a single vote), Martin stands as a Heat defensive option against both Brown and Jayson Tatum. Without Martin, it would further raise the two-way ante for Butler. Further, with Kristaps Porzingis in the Celtics’ mix, it potentially reduces the opportunities to utilize Adebayo as a primary defender on Tatum. Brown’s extension might have indirectly changed the Heat’s calculus with Martin.

RINGS TRUE: In South Florida last weekend for a game in the Big 3 halfcourt circuit at Kaseya Center, Mario Chalmers said he would be onboard with the notion of some type of Heat ring of honor at the team’s arena. While players such as LeBron James and Butler sooner enough will have their jerseys in the rafters alongside those of Alonzo Mourning, Tim Hardaway, Shaquille O’Neal, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade, there is a second tier of players from the franchise’s 35 seasons who arguably deserve a place in Heat posterity, players not necessarily of the level of retired jerseys, but of commemoration. “I would love that,” Chalmers said. “That would be a dream come true.” Such an approach would delineate the franchise’s ultimate stars while also allowing a place of appreciation for the likes of, say, Rony Seikaly, Grant Long, Glen Rice, Steve Smith, P.J. Brown, Dan Majerle, Jamal Mashburn, Chalmers, Goran Dragic and perhaps, if only for his one shining moment, Ray Allen. (It also would provide the Heat a means to reclassify those jerseys tucked in the rafters of Michael Jordan and Dan Marino.)

STILL A BUCKET: In the wake of the Big3’s visit to South Florida, former Heat forward Michael Beasley exited the weekend leading the league with his 21.8 scoring average. To put that into perspective (beyond, of course, the perspective of playing against some more than a decade older), Beasley is doing that in a league where games are played to 50. Beasley, 34, also leads the league with his 10.4 rebounds per game, ahead of the 9.6 of former Heat forward and teammate Rashard Lewis. Chalmers, 37, is fifth in the Big3 in assists.

STEPPING IN: Former Heat power forward Kyle Alexander not only has been signed by Israel’s Hapoel Tel Aviv, but among the players he reportedly beat out for that roster spot was former Heat center Hassan Whiteside. Alexander, 26, was with the Washington Wizards during summer league earlier this month. Whiteside, 34, had been playing in Puerto Rico, where he averaged 22.1 points, 13.4 rebounds and 2.6 blocks. In another international move involving a former Heat player, guard Briante Weber has signed to play the coming season in Italy.