Q: Ira, Is it just me, or do you also feel that Kel’el Ware has regressed from last season? Nikola Jovic also has not shown the improvement we anticipated. – Joel, Fort Lauderdale.

A: Look, the Kel’el Ware-Bam Adebayo pairing wasn’t all that great last season, either. But, yes, Kel’el has not been very good this season and was very bad on Thursday night. It was almost as if Erik Spoelstra took a U-turn when it came to nearly criticizing Kel’el again during his postgame comments. And this time it would have been deserved. That -20 in the box score was hard not to notice. As for Nikola, he largely has done what has been needed with the second unit, with Thursday simply an off night. Nikola, at -13, was the only player other than Ware with a double-digit negative plus-minus against the Spurs The bottom line is the Heat need what Kel’el can bring, and can compensate for what  Nikola brings if he is off.

Q: I think if Kel’el Ware kind of adapts to the new playing style as others have, he’ll have an enjoyable year.  Play tough-nosed defense when the opposing team comes in the paint, rebound, and just run, run and you might find yourself on the receiving end of lob city. – Douglas.

A: Exactly. With the 3-pointers a bonus. Kel’el Ware doesn’t have to create shots in this offense, he simply has to bring energy. The problem is that all too often has been a some-of-the-time thing from the 2024 first-rounder.

Q: Ira, in regards to Terry Rozier, the league should not be punishing the Heat twice (making Rozier ineligible, but also counting him on the cap). If Rozier should be paid by the Heat because it is innocent until proven guilty, the Heat should also decide if they want to play Rozier. On the other hand, if the league wants to make Rozier ineligible, they should provide the Heat with some type of compensation. –  Frank, Apopka.

A: Yes. It would be one thing if this weren’t a salary-cap league. But it is. So parking a player without an off-ramp against the tax and cap seems unreasonable. But, again, we’re one week removed from the arrests in the gambling probe, so somewhat of a grace period is likely needed. But that should be followed by a degree of common sense. Yes, the league has never been here before. But it is here now. All as the schedule rolls on and the February trading deadline draws closer.