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ASK IRA: Max o no max para Whiteside? Esa es la pregunta

11 de enero de 2016

P: Ira, en primer lugar, si está sano, no hay razón para no asumir que Hassan Whiteside no continuará mejorando su juego. Mi segundo punto es que no puedo entender el calor permitiendo a Whiteside caminar sin obtener algo a cambio. - Chet.

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Envíe sus preguntas al escritor Heat beat Ira Winderman y compruebe sus respuestas aquí. Rellena mi formulario en línea.

Envíe sus preguntas al escritor Heat beat Ira Winderman y compruebe sus respuestas aquí. Rellena mi formulario en línea.

P: Cuándo vas a despertar y comenzar a darse cuenta de que Dwyane Wade no es quien fue una vez? Echa un vistazo a sus estadísticas. Qué tan consistente es él? No me dé una retórica sobre cuándo y cómo brilla. Has sido empleado de Sun Sentinel durante años, seguramente podrías ver lo que veo. No conjure su propio intelecto soñador a los aficionados que le escriben. Poco saben que eres la evaluación en el equipo debe ser desatendida. - H. P.

A: OK, entonces. Para aquellos que deciden no hacer caso omiso: Esto se ha convertido en el mayor reto de Erik Spoelstra, y uno que puede ofrecer aún menos perspectiva en que el que usted elige ignorar aquí. No puedo imaginar que Spoelstra prefiera algunos de estos tiros finales que Wade ha elegido, especialmente cuando está fuera como si fuera sábado en Utah. Pero como con Kobe Bryant con los Lakers, trabajar con un icono de franquicia es uno de los mayores desafíos en el coaching. Spoelstra tiene que llegar a un compromiso con Wade al igual que Gregg Popovich tiene con sus estrellas en San Antonio. El problema es Spoelstra no es Popovich. Pero Pat Riley lo es. Esa influencia, incluso desde la oficina principal, potencialmente podría ir un largo camino en este proceso.

P: Algo tiene que estar en las obras para tratar de mejorar las posibilidades de este equipo de hacer y avanzar en los playoffs. El tiempo es ahora. Tienes que vivir con lo que los Tres Grandes pueden traer (Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh y Goran Dragic). Probablemente tenga que mantener Gerald Green y Tyler Johnson debido a su energía instantánea y más positivo que el juego negativo. Justitia Winslow es un buen defensor, pero su capacidad de tiro necesita mucho trabajo, así que por ahora es algo unidimensional. Hassan Whiteside es una clave para defender el carril, rebotear y, a veces, la principal presencia dentro de la puntuación. Eso deja a todos los demás en esta lista en juego para conseguir el tiro, tanto en el perímetro como en el rango medio que este equipo claramente carece. - Michael, Miami.

R: Creo que de una manera indirecta me estás preguntando si el Heat debería poner Luol Deng en juego. Basado en la estructura de salarios del Heat, sería el elemento más probable para un acuerdo. Sin embargo, también ofrece el tipo de experiencia veterano que podría ser esencial en los playoffs, y, al menos por el momento, es uno de los mejores tiradores al aire del Heat.

10 de enero de 2016

P: Este equipo necesita confiar en Goran Dragic en el momento crucial. Usted no puede usarlo en la primera mitad y luego deferirse a Dwyane Wade después. Ahmad.

R: Puedes decir todo lo que quieras acerca de Dragic, sobre diferir, sobre quedarte en su carril, sobre sacrificar. Y nada de esto tiene sentido por la razón de que este es un jugador que el Heat adquirió a costa de dos selecciones de lotería potenciales, al tiempo que paga un salario casi máximo. Eso no suena como alguien que usted monta difícilmente temprano y pide tomar un asiento trasero más adelante en juegos. Nunca obtendrás una respuesta directa del Heat, porque no están en posición de ofrecerte uno, pero la pregunta definitiva es: Si supieras que esta era la forma en que se iba a utilizar Dragic, habrías hecho el Mismo comercio, ofreció el mismo contrato? El Heat, por supuesto, dirá sí. Tienen que. No tienen recurso. Pero teniendo en cuenta el costo en términos de selección de proyectos y el salario, había que ser más previsto. Tuve que. Aceptando eso, la siguiente pregunta es si es posible para este personal, este sistema, esta lista para maximizar las posibilidades de Goran. Garrapata. Garrapata. Garrapata.

Q: Me encanta Dwyane Wade y él es el mejor jugador de Miami Heat jamás. Pero yo no entiendo, por qué sigue tomando disparos cuando él claramente sabe que está teniendo una mala noche? Por qué no mover la pelota o seguir pasando a chicos como Chris Bosh y Goran Dragic que están teniendo buenas noches de tiro? - Gago, Los Ángeles.

R: Porque la misma confianza que puede producir noches como el viernes en Phoenix para Wade también puede producir noches como el sábado en Utah. Ahí es donde un entrenador tiene que intervenir, como uno de los desafíos más difíciles de su trabajo, y conseguir que la bola se mueva en otras direcciones más productivas. Sí, Dwyane está siempre a un tiro de distancia de algo especial, pero a veces hay mejores, en esos momentos, opciones que Dwyane. Si está llegando a la canasta, eso es una cosa. Pero los puentes a menudo pueden ser dejados a otros.

P: Estoy empezando a ver más y más que Hassan Whiteside no está buscando como élite como todos pensamos. Siempre que el equipo contrario tiene un centro legítimo, especialmente en estos últimos juegos, Whiteside está recibiendo más y alley-ooped, etc. Creo que Whiteside es bueno, no me malinterpreten. Pero no creo que él pueda valer tanto como todos esperan cuando la agencia libre golpea - Earl, Jersey City.

R: Y no creo que el calor vaya al máximo con Whiteside por esa misma razón. Creo que hay un sobre escondido en algún lugar con un número en él. Si Whiteside puede obtener más y elige tomar más en otros lugares, entonces el calor seguir adelante. Pero también no exageraré estos últimos juegos. Jugando con dolor es una lección que todos los jugadores tienen que tratar, y un Hassan está trabajando a través de ahora.

9 de enero de 2016

Q: Hassan Whiteside está tan bien como desaparecido. No quiere jugar para un entrenador que no le valora. - Morales.

R: En primer lugar, yo habría hecho exactamente lo que Erik Spoelstra hizo el viernes, a su vez en otras direcciones tarde. Hassan simplemente estaba fuera de juego, ya fuera su tendinitis en la rodilla o sólo una de esas noches. El trabajo de Erik Spoelstra es poner sus mejores combinaciones en el suelo. Era difícil imaginar a Hassan, la forma en que estaba jugando, siendo parte de cualquiera de esas combinaciones el viernes. Estoy seguro de que Erik habría preferido un activo, agresivo Whiteside en algunos de los minutos Amar'e Stoudemire jugado. Pero el problema de la falta temprana en el camino de eso. En todo caso, creo que Hassan debería haber sido agradecido de que Spoelstra se volvió en otra dirección el viernes, especialmente teniendo en cuenta el resultado, Lo que tenemos que ver a continuación de Hassan es cómo se desempeña cuando se trata de las lesiones molesto, como es el caso con esta rodilla Tendinitis. Porque hay expectativas más altas en los jugadores máximos, si eso es lo que Hassan aspira.

P: Me imagino que el Heat está cómodo con su decisión de redactar Justise Winslow sobre Devin Booker y no tiene remordimientos. Para el registro, Booker fue 6 de 17 el viernes. - O. G.

A: Y Justise fue 2 para 4 y el Heat ganó, por lo que sí, hizo la declaración más significativa el viernes en su primer enfrentamiento. Pero sigo creyendo que la vida podría ser más fácil para el Heat con amenazas externas adicionales. Hubo razones por las que los Suns fueron zona en medio de su regreso el viernes, y entre las razones fue la percepción de la falta de calor de contramedidas fuera del Heat.

P: Quién en el mundo es esta persona que usted menciona nombrado & quot; McRoberts & quot ;? - Aura.

UN; He estado recibiendo esto en muchas formas con respecto a Josh McRoberts. Como con cualquier lesión, no soy un médico, y el Heat no está publicando los registros médicos, por lo que la única opción es esperar hasta que se escuche todo. Básicamente, tiene que ser así con cualquier lesión. Lo que voy a decir, sin embargo, es que Josh tiene el estilo de juego más único de cualquier jugador en la lista, y que requiere un ajuste para todos los demás en el suelo, aunque sólo sea estar listo para cualquier pase en cualquier ángulo en cualquier momento. Así que para todas las preguntas acerca de cuando Josh regresará, la preocupación ahora es un reloj que hace tictac, con el resto de la lista moviéndose hacia el tipo de continuidad que usted quiere haber establecido entrando en la segunda mitad de la estación. Será interesante ver cuando Josh regrese, exactamente en lo que el equipo sostiene sus posibilidades, cuando se trata de la posible interrupción de la continuidad actual. Por otra parte, no es como si los equipos no se negocian para los jugadores en enero y febrero, con los ajustes necesarios resultantes. Por lo menos ahora está comenzando entrenamientos ligeros, como lo hizo el viernes en Phoenix. Así que ahí está eso.

8 de enero de 2016

P: Es el momento adecuado para empezar a pensar en la vida sin Dwayne Wade? Parece cada vez más que este es el equipo de Chris Bosh. Noah.

A: Hasta que, por supuesto, Wade continúe en una de sus bocinas de puntuación. Entonces las preguntas serán sobre el contrato inflado de Bosh. Tal es vivir en el momento. Lo que el Heat necesita, con LeBron James todavía en la cima de la clasificación del Este, es tanto Wade como Bosh en su mejor momento. La mezcla actual no funcionará si el Heat se convierte en el equipo de un solo jugador. Tiene que ser un esfuerzo colectivo. Y también tiene que ser algo más que Wade y Bosh. Parte del problema es que cuando los juegos están cerca, el Heat a menudo va a un juego de dos hombres Bosh-Wade en un lado de la cancha, en detrimento de otros que podrían contribuir. Nos estamos acercando a mediados de temporada y esto sigue siendo trabajo en progreso, como parece ser el caso con la mayoría de los equipos no LeBron en el Este.

Q: Hassan Whiteside ha dado un gran salto en el último año, pero este verano realmente necesita aumentar el volumen para controlar la posición en la pintura y evitar que los centros opuestos lo hagan. Tus pensamientos? - Joel.

R: Lo veo más como una cuestión de disposición, si tiene esa agresión consistente necesaria para jugar en el puesto, o si continuará a serpentear. Con él, creo que es más mental que físico. Y eso es una preocupación, porque un contrato máximo significará que alguien le pagará $ 250,000 por juego, ya sea que aparezca en la parte superior de su juego o en algo menos. La consistencia sigue siendo una preocupación.

P: Michael Beasley jugó mejor defensa su última vez aquí que Gerald Green actualmente está jugando, y era mucho mejor de un espaciador de piso que Luol Deng actualmente. Además de eso, él trajo la puntuación más constante que Chris Both. Su juego complementa a Goran Dragic. - Ben.

R: Y esto es con el Heat habiendo ganado tres de sus últimos cuatro. Y, sin embargo, no estoy listo para insertar una línea de punch aquí, porque si Luol Deng se ocupa por el plazo de negociación, ya sea para guardar contra el impuesto o como parte de un paquete con Whiteside, entonces el nombre de Beasley es seguro que la superficie aún de nuevo.

7 de enero de 2016

Q: Deshacerse de Beno Udrih. Obtener Goran Dragic en el tribunal. Deja de dar a Hassan Whiteside el balón en el poste. Trae un tirador. -- Pablo.

R: Pero, cómo te sientes realmente? OK, vamos paso a paso en orden inverso. Mientras que algunos podrían notar que los Knicks, con sus tres triples el miércoles por la noche, sólo tenían uno más que el Heat, que pierde el punto con el Heat 2 de 17 desde fuera del arco (11,8 por ciento, ayudado por la conversión de Gerald Green al El buzzer final). Cuando piensas en todos los mítines contra el Heat esta temporada, cómo fueron logrados? Al cargar en tres. Los Knicks no necesitaban forzar a tres; Estaban por delante la mayor parte del juego. Pero no tener tiradores de 3 puntos es como no tener un juego de pases y tratar de superar un gran déficit en el fútbol. El enfoque de fullback del Heat lo hace aún más difícil en tales situaciones. Viernes, verán a Devin Booker en Phoenix, que al menos crea una pausa. Y un equipo de Suns que convirtió 19 triples en la victoria del miércoles sobre los Hornets. En cuanto a Whiteside, primero tenemos que imaginar dónde se encuentra con su tendinitis en la rodilla. Pero estoy de acuerdo con el enfoque inicial de dejar que él obtenga su fuera rebotes ofensivos, corriendo en transición y callejón-oops. En cuanto a Dragic, no puedes correr solo. Recuerde, dieron dos posibles lotería picks a los Suns. Olvídese del contrato (que todos siguen arpando); Recuerde esas selecciones. Usted no puede hipotecar su futuro para un jugador y luego no adaptarse a su juego. En cuanto a Beno, en su mayoría se ha mantenido estable, pero no es el tipo de defensor que Mario Chalmers fue. Ahora, cuando hay una necesidad de defensa de defensa, el Heat es especialmente limitado.

Q: En lugar de la Heat tratando de crear la separación de los otros equipos en la clasificación, que siguen jugando a la competencia, - Shad.

A: Porque tal vez eso es lo que son, también, un equipo con un récord inflados por tantos partidos en casa. Veremos si eso continúa en este viaje contra Phoenix, Utah y Denver. Pero, más que eso, veremos cómo el Heat se mide en los juegos contra Golden State, los Clippers y Oklahoma City.

P: Fue el miércoles un partido en el que Hassan Whiteside debería haber ido más? Parecía perdido saliendo al perímetro y se silenció cuando guardaba a Robin López. - Eric.

R: Primero, tenemos que ver cuánto estaba limitado por su tendinitis de rodilla. Entonces tenemos que ver si es el tipo de jugador que puede jugar a través de la incomodidad. Pero todavía tiende a flotar a través de ciertos juegos. Esa es una preocupación cuando su precio de venta de agencia libre podría ser de $ 250,000 por juego.

6 de enero de 2016

P: Me parece notable que un jugador no reclutado fuera de la D-League el año pasado y un novato de 19 años estén jugando grandes minutos de cuarto cuarto, incluso en horas extras, y llegando grande para un equipo famoso por veterano-pesado Alineaciones Añada a eso un centro recién salido de la D-League el año pasado que tiene estadísticas NBA-principales y un par de novatos en el banco que están publicando & quot; Jugador del Mes & quot; Stats en los cameos de la D-League y de repente una victoria ahora & quot; Reputación es más como una gran reconstrucción. Coma su corazón a Sam Hinkie y una ronda de aplausos, por favor, para un cuerpo técnico y exploradores que son los héroes silenciosos, que rara vez reciben el crédito que merecen. - Jack, Fort Myers.

R: Entonces supongo que me queda la tarea de traducir. Tyler Johnson y Justise Winslow, que han estado jugando con confianza (Johnson) y madurez (Winslow) más allá de sus años, jugaron el jueves. El centro, por supuesto, es Hassan Whiteside. Los D-Leaguers que usted referencia, Jarnell Stokes y Josh Richardson, podrían estar estirando su punto. Pero estoy de acuerdo en que el equipo de desarrollo de este equipo, durante años, ha estado por delante de la curva. Todavía pienso que este equipo sigue siendo mucho en modo de ganar-ahora, pero la presencia del talento del oleoducto también podría facilitar decisiones en el camino. Hasta cierto punto, esta es la única manera en que puedes tener éxito en la NBA con un par de $ 20 millones de jugadores, en Dwyane Wade y Chris Bosh, con el valor de la lista en otros lugares. Johnson, Winslow y Whiteside han sido precisamente eso.

P: Creo que el resto de la temporada se reduce a la salud con los cinco titulares, además de Tyler Johnson, Justise Winslow, Gerald Green y Beno Udrih o Josh McRoberts. - Brian.

R: Siempre se reduce a la salud, por lo que el Heat se encontró casi simpatizante con la situación de los Wizards el domingo por la noche. Casi. Es la razón por la que los Pacers de nuevo son imponentes, con Paul George de vuelta. Y es la razón por la que el calor ha sido capaz de acercarse a la continuidad. En la NBA, la salud lo es todo. En este momento, el Heat está lo más cerca posible del conjunto, a excepción de la curiosa ausencia con Josh McRoberts. La clave, por supuesto, es estar saludable cuando los juegos significan más, lo que todavía podría tener Erik Spoelstra ejercer cautela con sus veteranos como el calendario crece más compacto y agotador.

P: Cuando la pelota toca muchas manos es más difícil predecir para la defensa rival quien va a atacar la canasta. Es este el tipo de juego que Erik Spoelstra quiere desarrollar para la segunda parte de la temporada? - Borut, Gorizia, Italia.

R: Es el tipo de juego que ha querido desarrollar por cada minuto que ha servido como entrenador. Fue fascinante escuchar a Spoelstra antes del partido del domingo en Washington, casi radiante de tener siete jugadores en o cerca de las cifras dobles con sus promedios de puntuación. También es la mejor manera de asegurar un éxito duradero, eliminando la preocupación de un solo goleador dominante que tiene una noche fuera o siendo lesionado. Cuando el calor comparte la riqueza, los resultados han sido mayores riquezas en la clasificación. A veces es así de simple.

5 de enero de 2016

Q: Ira, no se puede decir que el Heat jugó muy bien el lunes. Pero se puede decir que jugaron duro y jugaron juntos. Eso fue genial. - Morris.

R: Fue una noche especial, y por muchas razones más allá de encontrar una manera de ganar al disparar una temporada peor .378 del campo. En primer lugar, encontraron una manera no sólo de superar la ausencia de Hassan Whiteside, sino también la realidad de que no hay un centro de respaldo legítimo en esta lista. Entonces encontraron una manera de regresar de 18 abajo, después de que había ocurrido demasiado a menudo contra ellos. Pero sobre todo, incluso cuando no fue bonito al final, cuando incluso hubo una violación de 24 segundos, se pusieron de pie para hacer las defensas necesarias y obtener los rebotes que eran necesarios. Estos son momentos en los que los jugadores crecen para momentos aún más grandes. Para mí, la victoria fue tanto sobre Tyler Johnson y Justise Winslow como Dwyane Wade y Chris Bosh. Lo que el lunes mostró fue que en la segunda noche de un partido consecutivo, en medio de la fatiga, los jugadores jóvenes del Heat podrían servir como la base para que los líderes del equipo aprovechen. Ahora hay un sistema de apoyo perimetral para Wade y Bosh. Esa podría haber sido la más grande para llevar desde la noche del lunes, disparos disparatados y todo.

P: Podemos comenzar a llamar a Dwyane Wade uno de los 10 mejores guardias de tiro en la NBA de nuevo? Por lo que estoy viendo, se está moviendo hacia atrás allí. -- Será.

A: Nunca dije que no lo fuera. La preocupación era cómo él manejaría situaciones como estas espalda con espalda. Fue sublime en la semana pasada, contra los pelícanos y la magia, y luego otra vez en los últimos dos partidos, especialmente contra los Pacers. Era interesante lo que Erik Spoelstra tenía que decir después del juego del lunes, cómo Dwyane está poniendo en tres horas de trabajo en la corte por cada hora en la cancha. Tengo curiosidad de saber si será capaz de mantener eso cuando el horario se vuelva más compacto en el camino. Pero, hasta ahora, tan bueno. Y el lunes ciertamente fue un momento o momentos de vuelta a la hora.

P: Fue ese el viejo LeBron James jugar al final de la regulación contra los Pacers? - Gilo.

A: Sin duda parecía, y trajo de vuelta los recuerdos de cuando Frank Vogel decidió jugar sin Roy Hibbert en la secuencia anterior playoff LeBron. Heat-Pacers es especial sin importar las apuestas o la época del año. El lunes fue épico, si no artístico. Esta vez pienso que la razón por la que Vogel tiene que mirarse en el espejo es su falta técnica en el cuarto cuarto. Como alguien que ha pasado por muchos de estos, tiene que saber mejor en esas situaciones. Lo hizo, en el tercer intento, conseguir una buena mirada de Paul George al final. Habría fallado antes de que George llegara a la línea de 3 puntos, pero Justite Winslow dijo que el Heat optó por jugar sin ensuciar.

4 de enero de 2016

P: Crees que Erik Spoelstra finalmente encontró las rotaciones correctas después de semanas de jugar al loto de rotación? -- Será.

R: Pero esa es la cosa, para usar un "Spoism", & quot; Se mantuvo el curso cuando tantos fuera del equipo estaban pidiendo un cambio de alineación. Y él metódicamente hizo un ciclo a través de varias posibilidades de rotación para llegar a donde el calor de pie hoy. A veces, se necesita prueba y error. Y a veces tienes que pasar por tus pruebas y hacer tus errores a principios de la temporada, cuando todavía hay tiempo para recuperarse. Para mí, esa es la vergüenza de este calendario, que el Heat tuvo que comer a través de gran parte de su horario de casa, mientras que la clasificación de la rotación. Es interesante, cómo Spoelstra es criticado en medio de pérdidas por los mismos movimientos que es elogiado cuando el Heat está ganando. El hecho es que el lienzo de la NBA ha cambiado incluso desde el comienzo de la temporada, con tantos juegos más desafiantes de la Conferencia Este, y con tantos equipos reduciendo sus alineaciones. Lo que mostró el domingo es que no sabes quién eres hasta que tengas todas tus piezas a tu disposición, con Justise Winslow regresando contra los Wizards. Las preguntas ahora con la ruleta de rotación es si la rueda habrá dejado de girar por completo cuando Josh McRoberts lo haga volver.

P: Confiaría en los 15 pies de Hassan Whiteside contra el tiro externo de Josh Smith cualquier día. Harsh, Ira. - C. P.

R: Eso no es lo que estaba haciendo. El punto que estaba haciendo es que a veces los jugadores se alejan de lo que hacen mejor cuando son capaces de lograr algo más allá de los parámetros de su juego. Sí, Hassan ha demostrado que puede hacer un puente exterior. Pero, la mayoría, si no todos los jugadores, en la cancha con él puede hacerlo mejor. Así que a menos que sea al final del reloj de tiro o al final de un período, esas son las oportunidades que mejor les queda a los demás. Del mismo modo, aquellos que son capaces de hacer disparos salvajes aún debe aplazar a Whiteside si está abierto en el borde. Con esto, y realmente cualquier lista, funciona mejor cuando los jugadores se limitan a lo que hacen mejor. No tengo dudas de que Hassan puede golpear al saltador ocasional. Sólo sé que esas tomas se deben dejar a Chris Bosh, Goran Dragic o Luol Deng. Eso es todo.

P: Los Dolphins, Panthers y Heat ganaron el domingo. A quién pertenece esta ciudad? - Sandy.

R: Nunca tuve este argumento, que tienes que hacer elecciones sobre qué deporte define tu mercado. No lo ves con los Bruins, Celtics, Red Sox y Patriots. No lo ves en Nueva York. O Chicago. No habría nada malo si los aficionados del Sur de la Florida tienen que debatir si asistir a un partido de Heat o Panthers en el mismo día. Ganar es bueno, no importa cómo ocurre la puntuación.

3 de enero de 2016

Q: Hey, cuál es su opinión sobre Dwyane Wade saliendo del banquillo de forma regular? Sé que el viernes jugando fuera del banquillo no era por diseño. Sin embargo, ofensivamente tuvimos uno de los mejores juegos de la temporada. Claramente ayuda a Goran Dragic a empujar el ritmo y apilarlo con otro tirador potencial junto con Chris Bosh y Luol Deng. Wade liderando nuestra segunda unidad jugando contra otras segundas unidades sería beneficioso para su salud y tendríamos un gran aumento en la producción de banco. Usted todavía podría jugar con él al final de los juegos con los titulares, también. - Taylor, Tazewell, Va.

R: El plan Manu Ginobili ha sido debatido en este espacio durante meses. Pero el enfoque sólo funciona si el jugador está en paz con la idea. De todas las indicaciones de Dwyane, no se ve a sí mismo en esa etapa de su carrera, sin embargo, especialmente en un año de contrato. Creo, sin embargo, que la noción será abordada por el Heat en la mesa de negociación del próximo verano, especialmente con la aparición de Tyler Johnson y Justise Winslow, y con la posibilidad de que Gerald Green se pegue por otra temporada. Su último punto es el más convincente, que no empezar no significa no terminar. Mira, el Heat claramente tiene un equipo que estaba fuera de clases jugando en la carretera en Año Nuevo en los Mavericks. Pero la deshidratación de Dwyane abrió la ventana en las posibilidades. Y en última instancia podría demostrar que la mejor manera de maximizar las posibilidades de Goran, también. Pero es un enfoque que probablemente se abordará en la temporada baja, cuando un plan específico puede ser puesto en marcha. Sin embargo, al jugar con Wade con la segunda unidad lo llevaría lejos de Hassan Whiteside, con quien tiene una excelente química.

P: Ira, sé que él nunca te quita los calcetines, pero realmente me gusta Beno Udrih. Sí, no tendrá uno de esos juegos explosivos como Mario Chalmers daría de vez en cuando, pero también no hace esos errores costosos 'Rio siempre lo haría. Creo que ha sido una gran adición y el equipo debe mantenerlo durante el año. Tus pensamientos? - Sean, playa de Pompano.

R: Primero déjame poner mis calcetines de nuevo. Estoy de acuerdo en que Beno ha sido algo de una revelación. Y su punto habla exactamente de lo que es, un jugador que le compra tiempo cuando otros están lesionados, en problemas de foul, o fuera de su juego. Pero tampoco es esencial. Y si él puede ser extirpado como parte de maniobrar para conseguir debajo del impuesto, todavía creo que es una dirección que el calor se movería. Pero no estoy seguro de lo que Beno está haciendo ahora exactamente tiene equipos fuera derribando la puerta del Heat. Por lo que podría obtener su deseo de que se pegue alrededor, aunque sólo sea por defecto.

Q: Ira, se está haciendo demasiado de las piezas desparejadas del Heat. La verdad del asunto es que somos un equipo con un montón de nuevas piezas que se unen y será un poco wonky la primera temporada. Recuerde, la primera temporada de la Era LeBron James, estábamos 9-8 y la gente estaba diciendo lo mismo. LeBron y Wade no encajaban inicialmente, pero lo hicimos funcionar con el tiempo. Al final del día, Pat Riley encuentra a los jugadores más talentosos en una posición determinada, si encajan o no, y los hace adaptar. Recuerdas lo horrible que los Cavaliers miraron el año pasado durante la primera vuelta de LeBron? Les tomó un tiempo reunirse. Los nuevos equipos toman tiempo para unirse, punto. - Alain, Miami.

R: Me opongo a la noción de esto como un "nuevo & quot; equipo. Wade, Bosh y Whiteside estuvieron juntos durante meses la temporada pasada, al igual que Dragic, Wade y Whiteside durante los últimos dos meses. Sí, se han agregado piezas como Gerald Green y Amar'e Stoudemire, pero eso es lo normal en la NBA de libre agencia de hoy, donde los jugadores de apoyo son reorganizados cada temporada. En cuanto a la adición de Justise Winslow, que no es nada más que un equipo de añadir un proyecto de selección, que, de nuevo, es la NBA de negocios como de costumbre. Este es un equipo que fue estructurado para ganar esta temporada, basado en el contrato de un año ofrecido \ a Wade y la adición de veteranos agentes libres. De modo que esa expectativa sigue siendo legítima.

2 de enero de 2016

Q: Qué sorpresa. Le das a Hassan Whiteside más detalles, que Dwyane Wade juegue el papel de Manu Ginobili desde el banquillo, y aunque no fue Justise Winslow quien reemplazó a Wade en la alineación titular, la juventud, el atletismo y la defensa que Tyler Johnson trajo nos dio un gran comienzo . Estos son los ajustes que los fans han estado proponiendo por un tiempo ahora, pero desafortunadamente serán de corta duración. - Ben.

R: No exageremos una muestra de un juego. Creo que el cambio más dramático del viernes fue la cantidad de jugadas, e incluso juegos, para Whiteside, y cómo maximizó las oportunidades. Creo que Erik Spoelstra ha estado trabajando a través de una serie de opciones, incluyendo una donde Goran Dragic puede jugar más a menudo en modo de ataque, como lo hizo durante el comienzo del viernes. Pero el juego de Dallas tampoco fue particularmente estrecho, así que todavía no sabemos cómo habría sido en los momentos de verdad, si Whiteside habría jugado como un más cerca, si Dragic habría sido dado ejecutar de la ofensiva. Pero estoy de acuerdo en que estos momentos serendipitous pueden crear aunque de posibilidades abajo de la línea.

P: Con las excepciones de los Warriors y Spurs, cada equipo ha luchado con consistencia, decepciones en el cuarto trimestre, agujeros de rotación, lesiones, preguntas de entrenadores, jugadores de bajo nivel de rendimiento, lapsos de energía, movimiento de bolas y saldo de alineación. Bienvenido a la NBA. A medida que la Conferencia del Este se fortalece, la paridad emerge y los horarios se equilibran, debemos recordar que el Heat no está solo en sus luchas. En equilibrio, una lista de calor saludable y un comercio clave puede arreglar un montón de cosas. Todavía me gustan nuestras posibilidades, así que vamos a calmarnos y evitar movimientos de pánico. - Jack, Fort Myers.

R: Es bueno tener la oportunidad de equilibrar algo de la desgracia y la oscuridad en este espacio con mayor perspectiva. Pero para contrarrestar esa esperanza, porque hay tantos contendientes para los ocho playoffs del Este - por lo menos 13 por mi cuenta - que también significa que aquellos que se retrasan en venir alrededor podrían encontrar demasiado tarde para el partido de la siembra. Estamos a dos semanas del punto medio del calendario del Heat. El momento de hacer balance es ahora. Y no estoy tan seguro de que ninguna caballería venga al rescate, porque no estoy seguro de que haya muchas (si es que hay) piezas comerciales tangibles.

P: Alguien va a decirle a Gerald Green que deje de disparar tiros de bajo porcentaje? No sólo les falta. Pero él desecha la química de cualquier alineación que esté allí, Earl, Jersey City.

R: Tal es el compromiso que haces para sus golpes de anotación, como el del viernes, que también han sido esenciales en las victorias. El problema es que Green ha surgido como el anotador principal con la segunda unidad, que es probablemente un papel más grande de lo previsto. Con más equilibrio en esa segunda unidad, sería más fácil montar las olas con Gerald. El viernes fue una ola que llevó a la victoria.

1 de enero de 2016

P: Tengo que estar de acuerdo en que este equipo, como hemos jugado, no es más que un equipo de 42 ganadores en el mejor de los casos. Nuestras rotaciones tienen a menudo solamente un jugador a guardar y no hay manera de ganar como esto. - Patrick, Hollywood.

R: Y la única manera que los cambios son si los líderes se unen, avivan una pasión que pone a un lado todas las agendas personales y maximiza la alineación inicial. Porque tienes razón, el éxito de la segunda unidad se ha reducido a si Gerald Green está anotando. Y eso es demasiado confianza en un jugador que es un viajero. La profundidad de este equipo se ha visto comprometida por la fragilidad de Josh McRoberts, la curva de aprendizaje de Justia Winslow y la reciente ausencia de Tyler Johnson. A menos que la segunda unidad viene alrededor, los arrancadores tienen que estar en lockstep en un grado mucho mayor que lo que se está ofreciendo en el momento.

Q: Erik Spoelstra dijo "obviamente" Hay positivos en el futuro, pero no fue muy específico. (La "competitividad" y los "chicos que no hacen excusas" son cliché, y no estoy seguro de cuáles son los positivos más evidentes ya, dado su juego desigual). En medio de los negativos, qué ves son los positivos para el calor o Qué tienen exactamente para ellos? - Ann, Perth, Australia.

R: Los puntos positivos son la consistencia ofensiva de Chris Bosh, las ráfagas de puntuación que Goran Dragic se ha permitido crear, el crecimiento de Hassan Whiteside como presencia en el cuarto trimestre, los momentos en que Dwyane Wade ha brillado como un acercamiento, la capacidad de Luol Deng Jugar como el complemento perfecto. El problema ha sido la falta de cohesión de esos elementos en el mismo juego a menudo. Ese es el problema, que hay suficiente en la alineación inicial para enmascarar muchas de las deficiencias. Pero el margen de error es tan leve que casi tiene que ser perfecto para que se cumplan las expectativas.

P: Con Josh McRoberts fuera y Amar'e Stoudemire un tamiz que dejó cuatro tiradas contra Memphis, usted sabe que Chris Andersen no haría eso. Sin embargo, no pagarán. Quieren ahorrar en el impuesto de repetidor. Este equipo necesitaba Dorell Wright, Willie Reed, Wayne Ellington. Culpa Pat Riley, también. Ahmad.

A: Esa es la pregunta con Birdman, si lo están manteniendo saludable para que él pueda ser movido en un acuerdo de ahorro de impuestos, aunque usted pensaría que los equipos querrían ver lo que, si es que queda algo. La decisión de Willie Reed fue interesante porque sólo fue por el mínimo que el Heat liquidó pagando para llenar la lista, de todos modos. Todo el tiempo ha habido un equilibrio entre ganar y el impuesto. Como he dicho desde el principio, la disputa por el campeonato bien podría determinar esa dirección. Por el momento, esto no se parece a un equipo con el tipo de química de la lista que se dirige hacia la contención del campeonato. Pero todavía hay tiempo, con el plazo de negociación no hasta la tercera semana de febrero. Perhaps the Heat are waiting until their West Coast trip to see if a statement about this season yet could be made.

December 31, 2015

Q: Come on, when are you guys going to start calling out Erik Spoelstra? -- Smit.

A: I have gotten a lot of this in many forms in recent days. But here's the thought from here, which I know won't satisfy those who only want blood: Making a midseason coaching change could severely disrupt continuity for a team that has been searching for continuity for more than a season. The Heat's approach, from the top on down, is so specific that it would impact the overall structure of the franchise. Pat Riley has built a roster to play exactly the style the Heat are playing, no matter the direction of the rest of the league. And Riley has said he believes this roster can check off all the required boxes for success. So that means Spoelstra having to play the hand he is dealt, including the mismatched pieces and a bench that is way too reliant on Gerald Green for offense. And the thing is, when the Heat do what they do well, when they move the ball and individually handle their defensive assignments, everything can look good, very good. If you do anything with the coaching staff, you’re basically admitting failure. I don't think we're anywhere near "failure," just frustration. What might help, and we're just spit-balling here, is some type of offensive coordinator, similar to when Pat Riley added Ron Rothstein to Stan Van Gundy's staff as a defensive coordinator. If the close games continue, there is something to be said about having someone with the savvy to design creative late-game calls.

Q: I think this will be good for Josh Richardson. He'll have time to get consistent minutes and learn what being a pro or semi-pro feels like. -- A. R.

A: I agree. With Beno Udrih apparently not going anywhere and with Tyler Johnson back, this brief, two-game opportunity in the D-League will provide Josh the opportunity to regain his legs in a system that essentially mirrors what the Heat utilize. And if he does show anything, it also could get the Heat to reevaluate his status when he returns for Sunday's game in Washington. What the Heat need to see is whether Richardson can evolve into the one-on-one defender that was advertised. That could yet present Erik Spoelstra with a late-game option in a defensive lineup.

Q: The talk continues to be about the Heat getting under the cap, yet this team clearly needs another wing shooter. Where does this leave us? -- Bev.

A: Weighing the merits of exactly where this season is taking the team and whether the greatest benefit with this roster might be avoiding the luxury "repeater" tax. Those deliberations from the front office are ongoing. Now, with 10-day contracts about to start on Jan. 5, and with all contracts to become guaranteed on Jan. 10, we're getting to a stage on the NBA calendar where personnel permutations are coming into greater focus and offering greater clarity.

December 30, 2015

Q: I respectfully disagree with Dwyane Wade. We really do know how good this team is going to be. Thirty games is enough of a barometer for me. If healthy, this looks like a 45- to 48-win team, with a ceiling of making the Eastern Conference finals. However, since 10 other teams have that same ceiling, it is highly unlikely the Heat make it that far. The next time a Miami Heat player or coach tells us after a loss, “It's a process," fans shouldn't mistake those words for any guarantee of improvement or consistency. These are well-paid entertainers, and that’s how they should be looked upon. For the remainder of the season, I will continue to be entertained, but I will not be deluded. So where am I wrong? -- Rich, West Palm Beach.

A: I think you previously were deluded. The scenarios you paint are a lot more in line with the reality of what the expectations should have been with a somewhat mismatched starting lineup, contrasting playing styles, and a second unit that requires the best of each player just about every night. Too much has to go right for this team to consistently reel off victories. They're still trying to find a way to make it work with Hassan Whiteside and they're incredibly reliant on Gerald Green for scoring with the second unit. But, as you stress, this whole "process" thing is something I'm surprised a Pat Riley-led production would allow to stand as a factor. It's always a process. That's what pro sports is all about. It's also about making a this-is-who-we-are stand. I think this team knows exactly who they are and what it is. And they also know how difficult it is to sustain with this mix. That, by itself, becomes fatiguing, even more than the talk.

Q: What has Amar'e Stoudemire shown you to this point? -- Brett.

A: Someone who is a solid locker-room presence and wholly out of sync with today's more athletic, up-tempo NBA game. He still is someone who can be spotted in the right situations against lager, less-nimble opposing big men. But it is difficult to foresee a regular rotation role, based on how the league currently is playing. And that's not even getting into the concerns of opponents involving Amar'e in pick-and-roll defense. If the approach remains to have Chris Bosh or Hassan Whiteside, or both, on the court at all times, then the opportunities for Amar'e could be limited to when one of those players either is injured or in foul trouble. There is absolutely nothing wrong with veteran depth in the rotation. The issue becomes when so much of that veteran depth (Stoudemire, Chris Andersen, Udonis Haslem) comes at the same position, with players whose games are limited to the paint. And that's not even getting into Jarnell Stokes, who appears to be something close to Udonis Haslem 2.0, but without the pedigree of NBA success.

Q: If the Heat dealt Mario Chalmers and James Ennis for luxury-tax purposes, then why is Beno Udrih still around? I thought they would give more playing time to Josh Richardson, but instead they have been going with Udrih. Unless Josh is hurt, what's the deal? -- Ernie, Los Angeles.

A: As long as Udrih is on the roster he remains the more NBA-ready, win-now option for the Heat. And with the current competitive makeup of the Eastern Conference, I think winning now is the overwhelming priority for Erik Spoelstra. That said, I still think the Heat will do anything possible to get under the luxury-tax threshold as long as it does not compromise the primary rotation. With Tyler Johnson back, it's not as if Beno is necessarily an enduring member of the primary rotation. The moment the Heat can package Chris Andersen and any other non-rotation player (Jarnell Stokes?) to get below the tax threshold, I believe they will pull the trigger. Right now, it appears the market for Udrih/Birdman is limited and perhaps non-existent.

December 29, 2015

Q: Why can't the Heat keep leads or be competitive? Is it the schemes or players? There is one constant happening over and over and over. This is a carryover from last year. Injuries are a part of the process and there were enough pieces on the bench to have won this game. -- Leon, Miami

A: Perhaps it is the type of players, and perhaps the type of coaches. At a certain point you have to ask whether these are players or spelunkers. Because all too often, they cave. We saw it in many games last season, while the playoffs still were a possibility. And now we're seeing it this season. Last season, the thought was there simply weren’t enough pieces, or at least healthy pieces. But it can't be that the defense falls apart because your rookie reserve forward isn't there. There are plenty of defensive overachievers on this roster, or so we've been told, in Gerald Green, Tyler Johnson and even Beno Udrih. Perhaps they need more of the real thing for moments when a Wayne Ellington goes to work.

Q: The loss to Brooklyn is on Erik Spoelstra. Coach Spo does not sufficiently adjust his lineups based on the players' real-time performance. -- Amir, Montreal.

A: I agree there have been too many of these when the Heat have allowed games to slip away, even though they also have done the opposite to other teams. The greatest concern is that if it can happen at home, then imagine what could happen in a hostile environment, when there is nothing in support? Right now, this remains a group of loosely connected players, where one or two can step up when needed, and in many games that will be enough. But the connective tissue is limited, and so when it starts to come apart like Monday, it can totally come apart. And this was about more than long rebounds. It is why even the team's leaders aren't sure where this is headed. It starts at the top, and this record remains a mirage with so many home losses and so few road wins. Can this team survive and thrive together with the system in place? December is turning into January and we're still not sure.

Q: Ira, I am concerned about Erik Spoelstra's limited rotations (normally nine players) and the extended minutes being put on a relatively aged roster. To my point: four starters are averaging over 30 minutes per game with the other (Hassan Whiteside) at almost 29. In contrast, San Antonio has only one starter (Kawhi Leonard) playing over 30 minutes. Do you agree Spoelstra is living too much in the moment in detriment of the future? -- Freddie, Bogota, Colombia

A: No. But the Heat also have yet to reach the meat of their schedule, when they start to load up with back-to-back games and road games. That's when I believe the minutes might have to be revisited, perhaps even allowing for a few Greg Popovich-like nights off along the way. It's almost as if the Heat are stocking up on victories while they can, knowing what comes next. Perhaps that's the overall strategy with Chris Andersen and Amar'e Stoudemire, to have them warming up in the bullpen. And with Tyler Johnson back, it will ease the burden on the perimeter rotation. I'm not sure, with their well-spaced schedule to this point that the Heat have needed to go deeper than nine on most nights. As Monday showed, legitimate questions remain about this team.

December 28, 2015

Q: The Heat are plus-14 in the fourth quarter with Hassan Whiteside on the court. When is Pat Riley going to demand that Erik Spoelstra play him in fourth quarters? -- Brian, Boca Raton.

A: The Orlando game was a step forward, but I also appreciate Erik Spoelstra having to be mindful of matchups. With Nik Vucevic in the game late for the Magic, it made it easier to keep Hassan on the floor, even with Vucevic consistently making mid-range jumpers. But the day before, the thought was that Hassan is not yet up to the challenge of Anthony Davis (I personally believe in trial by fire). With the Nets and Grizzlies up next, there should be plenty of opportunities the next two games for meaningful minutes. But let's be honest: If the opposition closes with four wings, who, based on recent finishes, would you rather have on the court, Whiteside or Bosh? Bosh has made himself essential and irreplaceable.

Q: If almost every game is like climbing Mount Everest, what's going to happen when are schedule gets tougher? -- Dallas, Staten Island.

A: You hope to stock away enough wins to make it through the darkest stages of the winter. That's what made Orlando matter, and that's why the Heat also have to get these upcoming home games against the Nets, Pacers, Knicks and perhaps even Mavericks. The East will level off. It just will. And those upcoming Western Conference games, outside of Golden State and Oklahoma City, no longer appear as daunting.

Q: I enjoyed the Heat's win Saturday night as much as anyone, but I can't shake the nagging feeling that it doesn't serve the Heat well to rely on Dwyane Wade playing hero ball down the stretch. The Heat used Goran Dragic, Chris Bosh and Gerald Green to get back in the game and then with a few minutes left turned to Wade shooting fadeaways in the post and pull-up jumpers. Maybe it worked on a night in December against the Magic, but the Heat aren't going win consistently, let alone a playoff series if that's what they turn to down the stretch. Do you agree? And is there anyway Erik Spoelstra can rein Wade in? Or is this just how its going to be this season? -- Mike, Fort Lauderdale.

A: I think Wade-as-finisher is overstated. Chris Bosh will get plenty of chances. And Dwyane can't be the choice when 3-pointers are needed. I have no issue riding the hot hand, no matter who the hot hand happens to be. The question with games like Saturday is what happens when Wade doesn't have the hot hand? That's where Spoelstra has to step forward, like the game in Atlanta. And that's where Dwyane has to turn elsewhere, which I believe, at this stage of his career, he will.

December 27, 2015

Q: Saturday was the most important and, in its own way, the Heat's impressive win of the season. -- Matt.

A: Which is interesting, considering they won two weeks ago in Atlanta, have defeated the Thunder at home, and then had Friday's nationally televised victory over Anthony Davis and the Pelicans. And, yet, I agree. I know it wasn't the most grueling of back-to-backs, playing early afternoon the day before and then spending less than an hour in the air to Orlando. But it still was a window on fatigue when it came to Dwyane Wade and the Heat's other thirty-somethings. Then there was the matter of rallying both in the first and then the second half. And this was a game where Goran Dragic got to contribute, Hassan Whiteside got to play late, and the Heat survived an opposing push back. Good stuff and a good night. Now backing it up Monday against the road-dreadful Nets is essential.

Q: Dwyane Wade is letting the world know that the Miami Heat is still his team. That might change one day, but not today. -- Will.

A: I'm not sure any of Wade's late shots would have been the right shots for anyone else in the league (other than Kobe Bryant in his prime). But Wade made them good shots. And he also got off the ball enough to keep Goran Dragic, Chris Bosh and Hassan Whiteside engaged. Dwyane Wade knows how to be Championship Wade better than anybody. Saturday in Orlando he flashed plenty of those moments. So who are we to question the approach when the results are so overwhelmingly impressive?

Q: Praise be Erik Spoelstra (and other sentences I have not typed before). He let Hassan Whiteside play late and he won a game. I know you're going to say the Nikola Vucevic scored at will, but Hassan did plenty. -- Bob.

A: With Vucevic hitting jumpers, knowing Hassan is reluctant to leave the paint, and with Elfrid Payton getting to the rim with ease, it's not as if that fourth quarter was necessarily the best of Whiteside. But merely by being given the opportunity to play as a closer, it could pay dividends later. Keeping Hassan engaged is essential. Saturday night, Spoelstra allowed Whiteside to be part of something special.

December 26, 2015

Q: Why bother yanking Hassan Whiteside when he picks up his third and fourth foul if he doesn't play down the stretch anyway? -- Eric.

A: Terrific question, and probably posed better than many of the Whiteside thoughts I've posted in the moment on Twitter or even asked about after games. Both times when Whiteside was forced to the bench Friday due to foul trouble he was playing some of his best ball of the game against the Pelicans. I did posit the question to several media types I respect after the game and their thought there was no way Hassan could cover Ryan Anderson (my thought was lock him on Anderson on the perimeter at the cost of his defensive deterrence, with the advantage of his offensive rebounding on the other end). The counter was that Whiteside would naturally gravitate back to the defensive paint and be unable to deal with Anderson on the pick-and-roll. But if Whiteside is to be a well-paid part of the Heat's future (and I'm not sold on that being a definite), then there also has to be a time when he is trusted against an Anthony Davis type (with Chris Bosh defending Ryan Anderson in such a scenario).

Q: Whoever said that there are no "bad"' wins should have watched this. Ugh. -- Scott.

A: But there are no bad wins. Should the Heat have won two weeks ago against the Grizzlies? Who cares? They did. Should they have won Tuesday against the Pistons after blowing an 18-point lead? That's all that would have mattered if they could have pulled that off. Ditto for Friday, with Anthony Davis missing at the end of regulation and the Heat surviving. Unless you're going to go through every other team in the East and circle their "bad" wins, you have to appreciate how emerging with Friday's win is what matters most in this remarkably competitive conference. It's still better to be six games above .500 and a half game out of second in the East than three games over .500 and being on the outside looking in like the Celtics.

Q: In Friday's game, the Heat ran a play that started with Chris Bosh getting the ball at the top of the key. Bosh passed to Dwyane Wade who was cutting through the lane and looked like he was going toward the basket. But the play was designed for Wade to pass it out (misdirection play) to Luol Deng, who was wide, wide open on the other side of the court. Swish. Why are the Heat not running more plays for Luol Deng, where Deng can square up and shoot? That is Luol Deng's bread and butter. -- Stuart.

A: I'm going to take it further: Why are the Heat not running more plays (period)? I know that the thought is teams take away your plays at the ends of close games. But there is enough quality throughout the roster that there should be more two-, three - or multiple-player actions. Yes, there is a comfort going to Bosh and Wade during crunch time, but that's also when the offense can bog down, as well.

December 25, 2015

Q: The Heat's cannot seem to sustain energy and effort throughout a full 48 minutes. As you've been saying, this will become more problematic as the road-heavy January schedule comes into play. When looking ahead, when do you think Miami will dip below .500 for the first time? I think there's a pretty good chance that this happens by the Jan. 11 game against Golden State. Also, a 5-12 January seems somewhat feasible if we continue to display our consistently inconsistent effort. -- Eric, Fort Myers.

A: This is why it was so important to bank games like the Toronto and Detroit losses that slipped away. I think the next four games could offer insight into what will follow, with this the Heat's lone set of four games in five nights. Games in Orlando and Memphis will be challenging on the second nights of back-to-back sets, but could also open a window on how much Dwyane Wade, and, to a lesser degree, Chris Bosh can offer in those situations. The depth has been comprised by injury, but in the small-ball world of today's NBA, more depth on the wing appears essential on any NBA roster. With so many idle big men, it's as if the Heat are shortchanging themselves of the opportunity to push through injuries and challenging scheduling.

Q: Is Erik Spoelstra untouchable? Has he reached the point where the media is afraid to even offer constructive criticism without consequence? The fact of the matter is some of these games are being lost because of coaching. In that Pistons game, we lost that 18-point lead with Justise Winslow, Udonis Haslem and Josh Richardson in the same lineup. How would that unit score? And he waited too late to make the adjustment. Por qué? Because he scripts his rotations for the most part and he doesn't break script. -- Ken, Pembroke Pines.

A: To address your first concern, something that has been asked (and addressed) frequently in this space: I don't think you can go after coaches who have their teams among the NBA's upper third for most of the season. To your secondary point: scoring on the second unit has been a concern beyond Gerald Green, with the Tyler Johnson injury further complicating that mix. Even against Detroit, Spoelstra had to find time to rest his starters, who were fresh when needed late. Yes, something should have been done when Detroit was loading up on 3-pointers, but there also was a sense that Detroit couldn't sustain what they haven't sustained all season. I do agree that Spoelstra can grow too set in his ways. Only recently has he shown late flexibility with Whiteside. When the roster again is whole, the second unit might deserve further inspection.

Q: I noticed whenever Hassan Whiteside gets the ball below the foul line he doesn't pass and tries to force his shot no matter how hard it is. It's a shame because some of our 3-point shooters are open. -- Mike.

A: Which is another reason that for all the clamor for additional 3-point shooting, I'm not sure that the lineups with Whiteside would necessarily benefit from such spacing. What first has to happen is increased recognition from Whiteside when to move the ball, re-post and then re-set the offense.

December 24, 2015

Q: My expectations have been lowered. A quarter of the season has gone and the shakeout has begun and it's saying that my team is average, based on the current path. Hunger does not seem to be in their vocabulary. Like most institutions, leadership counts. They probably they need a Tom Thibodeau/Pat Riley type to light the fire. I'm still hoping for a turnaround. -- Leon, Miami.

A: What you look for in a season, which actually is now one-third over, are the statement moments that help you better define the possibilities. I thought we might have seen that with the comeback victory over the Grizzlies and then the victory in Atlanta. But then there has been the 1-2 start to this four-game homestand, with a deplorable second quarter on Tuesday night and the uneven performance Friday against the Raptors. And it can't be because they have been lacking Tyler Johnson and Josh McRoberts, with no disrespect to either. I believe more than coaching fire, what this team needs are signature road victories, with few opportunities to this point with so few road games. A statement could be made Saturday in Orlando or Tuesday in Memphis. The problem is that both of those road games come on the second nights of back-to-backs sets (as part of a bigger run of four games in five nights). But that's what the Heat need at the moment: statements instead of excuses. We could know by the turn of the calendar whether this team is poised for something bigger, or whether it will go through the January road grinder holding on for dear life. Want to see what Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh have left? The four-in-five-nights and then the January schedule might tell us.

Q: I think Pat Riley put this team together for his philosophy, but it just doesn't mesh with Erik Spoelstra's system or whatever it is he's actually trying to do. -- Ben.

A: Look, Tuesday's game turned when Spoelstra had to turn to a raw, unproven Josh Richardson, on a bench provided by Pat Riley that also includes Chris Andersen, Amar'e Stoudemire and Jarnell Stokes. This team needs another ballhandling wing. Because not only is Goran Dragic dealing with issues with both hands, but Tyler Johnson plays a style that will continue to put his shoulder at risk. And it's not as if point-forward Josh McRoberts has been able to keep himself on the court. Yes, it will come at a tax cost. But the need is there. Ahora.

Q: Ira, Stan Van Gundy is looking awfully smart taking Stanley Johnson over Justise Winslow. Johnson plays like Winslow but has an offensive game. -- Joel.

A: Johnson is much more polished on offense. So it comes down to what each team values most. The Heat have always been defense-first, which works in Winslow's favor. But you could see Tuesday what the Pistons envisioned with Johnson. You also could see how much better the Heat would be if consistency could be developed with Winslow's outside shot.

December 23, 2015

Q: Mario who? -- Freddie.

A: Look, let's not go too far with Beno Udrih at this stage, even after he stepped forward Tuesday night against the Pistons. But a move that had luxury-tax advantages for the Heat, the trade of Mario Chalmers to the Grizzlies, at least for one night, did not leave the Heat at a deficit. Without Beno, the game likely wouldn't have been as close as it was, the Heat wouldn't have had those late opportunities. It's been a similar story for Udrih in most of his NBA stops. He may not put you over the top, but he rarely sets you back. You could see Tuesday why there was more faith from Erik Spoelstra in Udrih than Josh Richardson. But you could also see from a depth standpoint how essential it is for the Heat to have Goran Dragic and Tyler Johnson. Now the question is how "minor" those injuries are with Dragic and Johnson. Dragic left with a brace on his left wrist and a splint on his right thumb, hardly the most encouraging wardrobe. The Heat's depth on the wing still is limited, on a roster overloaded with big men who don't play. Another ballhandling wing certainly wouldn't hurt. It's not as if Chris Andersen, Amar'e Stoudemire or Jarnell Stokes are getting minutes.

Q: I ra, would Josh Richardson benefit from being sent down for a couple of weeks to get some more minutes under his belt? Also, what's the maintenance program for Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh going to look like in January? -- Gabriel, Denver.

A: Based on the ailments that Dragic and Johnson are dealing with, Richardson is a roster necessity at the moment. And based on the players the Heat have at Sioux Falls, I'm not sure they would want to bring in someone who could take minutes of Tre Kelley, Briante Weber and Corey Hawkins, players they have made a commitment to at that level. I, too, am curious about the upcoming plans for Wade, with the Heat to open their lone four-games-in-five-days set on Christmas Day against the Pelicans. How the Heat proceed with Wade in that one could offer a telling perspective on their plans with him in their remaining 13 back-to-back sets. As for Bosh, the Heat have never utilized a maintenance plan with him to this point, so I can't see why they would start now. But Tuesday's game shows how heavily the Heat are leaning on Wae and Bosh at this stage of their careers.

Q: Ira, this Christmas there is only one thing I want from Santa and only one thing: to see Chris Andersen on the court one more time in the Heat uniform. Man, what happened to the Birdman? Why aren't they using him? He can help this team so much? Why is he not being utilized? Other teams would give anything to have such a dedicated and fun player to have on their roster? I am frustrated for not seeing him play. -- Masoud, Tucson.

A: First, if other teams would give anything, Bird already would be with one of those other teams, with the Heat still looking to get below the luxury-tax threshold, and with Andersen's salary just about the amount needed to get below the tax, and, therefore, for the "repeater" tax. I do agree, though, that if ever there was a day for Birdman's beard to make an appearance, it would be Christmas. More than anything, I think the changes in the game have conspired against Chris (and Amar'e Stoudemire and other post-based big men around the league). Agility is now the key at every position, with much of the league playing a spread offense. While Chris takes great pride in his 3-point work ethic, it's not as if he's a floor spacer. Unfortunately, Chris' time may have come. and gone.

December 22, 2015

Q: We have not jelled yet but we have the fourth-best record in the league. -- Roger.

A: Actually, the Heat exited the weekend tied for the second-best record in the Eastern Conference and for the fifth-best winning percentage in the league. But that's not the point. Actually, the winning percentage isn't the point, either, considering the overwhelming amount of home games to this stage. What is the point is what you first referenced, how the Heat have yet to fully jell. At this stage of the season, it's almost as if the entire Eastern Conference has yet to jell. Erik Spoelstra keeps talking about the Heat getting to their identity. And yet this team has multiple identities. Lately, they have been winning higher-scoring games, like the 116-109 victory over the Blazers. Perhaps that's the direction this turns. But I'm not sure if that is sustainable, because I'm not sure their recent 3-point shooting is sustainable. What the Heat need is a sustained streak of successful, similar (any style) play, where they can say, "This is who we are and what we are." I'm not sure I've seen that yet. Until we do, I'm also not sure the record is the best barometer of what's to follow.

Q: Part of the Heat's fan base is bent on trading Luol Deng. Do they not realize how much of a complete team he establishes? -- Nicholas.

A: They should, considering how his 3-pointers kept the Heat afloat Sunday against the Blazers, and how his intangibles have eased this ride. There is a reason that Deng is the constant as Erik Spoelstra shuffles through his initial lineup changes. He's the chameleon in this rotation, able to coexist with just about every permutation. And it's interesting that he also has become more a part of the closing process, as well. With Deng doing what he does, it has made it easier for Gerald Green to get back to doing what he does.

Q: Hassan Whiteside would dominate more on offense if the Heat had 3-point shooters like J. J. Redick or Ryan Anderson to spread the floor. -- Aura.

A: Yes, and that's why the Heat previously had such spacers as staples. But that also only works if Whiteside becomes a capable passer out of the post, especially with his recognition. And that remains a work in progress. But if the Heat do commit to Hassan long term in free agency, it would behoove them to commit to a 3-point upgrade, as well. Those two elements should go hand in hand. For now, the Heat have to hope the rest percentages of Luol Deng, Gerald Green and Chris Bosh can be maintained.

December 21, 2015

Q: Pat Riley needs to tell Erik Spoelstra to go old school and play big for all four quarters for five or six games. I bet Miami would see results. Please tell me Spo learned his lesson Sunday. Small-ball days for the Miami Heat are over. Miami can beat the Cavaliers like this. -- Will.

A: First, the Heat, in this ultra-competitive Eastern Conference, are in no position to experiment with anything for five or six games. Every game matters. Yes, even this early in the season. I also think some may be overstating Sunday's closing lineup. While the Trail Blazers are an outside-shooting, perimeter-oriented team, they also play multiple big men. Miles Plumlee played 7:42 in Sunday's fourth quarter, which made it easier for Spoelstra to leave Whiteside on the court. Now, you certainly could make the chicken-and-egg argument that Plumlee was on the court because the Heat forced the Blazers' hand. But the matchups made it easier for Whiteside to have a place on defense. Today's NBA is like chess. I don't think you can come out and stick with a game plan regardless of the opposition. If you do, you'll be walking straight into checkmate.

Q: This team reminds me of my ex-girlfriend. You don't know what to expect from day to day. One day, you swear you are finished; the next day, it's spectacular. One day, you feel so deep in love with them; the next, they show you why you are so stressed out. We are not even at the halfway point, and my emotions are a wreck. Will the real Miami Heat team please stand up! I would love you for better or for worse, just give me one team to love. -- James, Sunrise.

A: First, this is "Ask Ira" not "Delilah Radio" so I can only address half your issues. What I can tell you is that you are not alone when it comes to your team's inconsistency and inability to establish an identity. It's basically the story of the Eastern Conference this season beyond the Cavaliers. What is interesting is that now that there are so many competitive teams in the East, fans who would have accepted .500 last season now are expecting even more. You see it from Magic fans and Celtics fans and Pistons fans, and even Knicks fans. The results have fluctuated wildly in the East this season, unless your team is fortunate enough to be playing the 76ers or Nets. So I say embrace it. There are worse places to be than 16-10.

Q: I am curious as to why Josh Richardson isn’t seeing more time, especially after that was one of the reasons Mario Chalmers was traded. He has given us good minutes when he has played. I also think he can give us a good dynamic, mostly defensively, against small lineups, which have been an issue for us at times. My assumption is that it's partially because Gerald Green has been a lot more impressive on the defensive end than expected, and also because they want to use Beno Udrih so that someone will take him in a trade at some point -- Zach, Miami Beach.

A: I'm not sure on your Beno angle, although with the tax, you never know. I think it could be more of a case of Josh McRoberts being out. With McRoberts, there would be a veteran ballhandler on the floor, making it easier to add a neophyte like Richardson into the mix. Without McRoberts, I think the preference is for a settling presence like Udrih. Ultimately, if Tyler Johnson continues to miss time, I think you'll see more lineups with Dwyane Wade as the primary ballhandler. If McRoberts returns before Johnson, which appears unlikely, I think you could see a bit more of Richardson. It's all about the Joshes.

December 20, 2015

Q: How much of this is on Erik Spoelstra? Dwyane Wade, Goran Dragic, Chris Bosh and Hassan Whiteside are so talented. Now it's a case of the whole being less than the sum of its parts. -- Brian.

A: Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the essence of the 2015-16 Miami Heat. How interesting is it that when we start talking about the Heat's best games, we often wind up talking about Luol Deng and Justise Winslow, and not just because they're two of the Heat's best defenders? What any successful team needs are glue players, complementary players, and several of them. Players like Deng and Winslow hold it all together. Yes, the Heat roster looks good on paper and may even look good in fantasy basketball. But what if it's about more than Erik Spoelstra? What if these pieces don't fit? There are times when there are too many chefs out there. When so many need the ball, no one feels sated. And when players aren't sated, that's when they stop doing the ancillary things so essential to winning. Either Erik has to find combinations that work in lockstep, or else some of these players have to join Deng and Winslow among the Complementary Corps. Right now, individual will, like Wade's big finish in Brooklyn, will only get you so far against so many (second-tier) teams. It's odd, but it's almost about who is going to step back, facilitate, allow a small, defined scoring core to lead.

Q: What do you think is the main issue for the Heat's lack of consistency? -- Leon. Miami.

A: Too much talking about what they need to do and not enough of backing it up with actions. There have been plenty of players talking about not getting into the offense, not finishing the defense, not protecting the ball, not keeping everyone involved -- and yet many, of not all, of those same players are guilty of doing just those things. It's easy to say what should be done. It's a lot more difficult to put in the effort. At times, it makes you wonder whether the drive -- fulltime drive -- is there for some on this roster. This team seems to grow content way too easily. When the going gets tough, the 2015-16 Miami Heat.

Q: Ira, the Heat are 15-10 and the sky is falling? Dude, exhale. -- Jeremy.

A: Ahhhhhhh. (you're right, it feels much better). Actually, the reason why I've received so many questions lately like the ones above is there a belief that this team is capable of far more. Again, by the names, and sometimes by the numbers, the expectations are of great achievement. But that's only when the players play more often as a team, and play more consistently, cohesively, collectively. There are times when it appears the Heat are on the verge of turning that corner. And then there are games, like the one against Toronto, when they fall off a cliff.

December 19, 2015

Q: Ira, do you really buy into the idea that Pat Riley believes that this current Miami Heat roster is a contender for a championship -- a team that can beat the Cavaliers and beat whoever comes out of the Western Conference in the NBA Finals? Pat Riley seems to be extremely confident about this Miami Heat team being a contender. Is this some type of smoke screen to buy Riley some time while he figures out what's his next move? I like to believe Riley is just waiting for the 2016 offseason or somebody is getting traded before the February trading deadline. I'm not saying that Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh can't pull off a miracle with this team, but Riley calling this roster a contender in every single interview is starting to sound like a sales pitch to the fans. -- Will.

A: Does Pat Riley believe it? As Pat has said before, he almost always believes his team has a chance. And if everything breaks right for the Heat, and I do mean everything, there certainly would be a puncher's chance. But I also believe that Pat Riley knows this roster does not give the Heat the NBA's, or perhaps even the Eastern Conference's, best chance to win it all. So I do believe he is looking for more. I know he has said the Heat have enough, and there is no reason not to publicly say that. But he also knows this team could use more shooting. You don't have to be championship-winning executive to at least recognize that much. As for the big picture, I do not believe Pat will do anything this season that would then limit his team in the 2016 offseason or beyond, unless a star can be added in the interim. So it still might be a case of first avoiding the luxury tax, then moving forward after that. The Heat certainly didn't have enough in Friday's fourth quarter.

Q: If the trend continues toward small ball, will it be Kevin Durant or Hassan Whiteside in 2016? I say if Pat Riley is given the chance of locking either one to a long-term contract, he'd take Durant over Whiteside. What say you Ira? -- Rodney, Sarasota.

A: I say that there is absolutely no evidence to believe that Kevin Durant even has Miami leanings at this stage, and that we won't know about Durant's intentions until we see what the Thunder do in the playoffs. I think Pat's only deliberations are what degree to go with Whiteside when it comes to a contract going forward. I think there still is a number in Riley's thinking that makes sense regardless of any other Heat personnel permutations.

Q: Any chance the Heat can acquire Kevin Martin? I heard he was on the trading block. He would be a perfect guy to spread the floor as a sharpshooter from 3-point land? -- Raleigh, Miami.

A: I agree he is a player who could make the Heat better. But I cannot fathom what the Heat have that would tempt or even interest the Timberwolves. The Heat have precious few second-round picks to offer and currently, by rule, cannot even trade a future first-round pick (which would be too much to offer, anyway). Josh Richardson? And wouldn't that even be too much. Beyond that, would Martin play ahead of Tyler Johnson or Gerald Green. And if he wouldn't, what would make Miami better than his current situation in Minnesota?

December 18, 2015

Q: I think Udonis Haslem should keep playing the backup role when the second unit is out there, even when Josh McRoberts comes back. McRoberts is way too much finesse and not enough grit and grind like U. D. With U. D. the team plays better defense and on offense you get the same production without the annoying behind-the-back passes that are almost never caught. McRoberts can play whenever U. D. is out or if the team needs something different on any given night. -- Ricardo, San Antonio.

A: I don't see the Heat going there, and I still think there is a need for McRoberts' shooting, if he actually starts taking shots, and actually starts making them. But there suddenly are more questions than answers now with Josh, after the offseason word was that he had moved beyond last season's knee issues and only was in need of conditioning. Now there is some type of mysterious knee ailment that took place on Nov. 10 yet didn't have him out of the lineup until weeks later. What Haslem is doing at the moment is providing the comfort of continuity. With McRoberts and Tyler Johnson out, he has filled the exact type of role that was cast for this season. But if there isn't more from the bench than Justise Winslow and Gerald Green from an offensive standpoint, it is going to get exponentially more difficult to succeed when the back-to-back sets start to add up, with a run of four games in five nights to begin on Christmas Day.

Q: When Beno Udrih is in the game, the pace hasn't fallen. Will Udrih be traded in February or they will keep him? -- Borut, Boca Raton.

A: Again, depth is essential, as has been shown by the way Beno has stepped up as Johnson has dealt with his shoulder issue. And you never can have too many point guards. But Beno also has the type of contract that, if offloaded, could further cut into the Heat's tax position, and possibly help the Heat avoid the tax altogether. So it could come down to how Johnson plays when fully healthy, whether there actually could be a taker for Udrih, and if there is a minimum-scale replacement who could be added as insurance. I'm not sure the Heat expected Beno to play nearly this much. But he has made the most of his minutes.

Q: Why in the world would the Heat trade Hassan Whiteside? He is becoming a dominant force on defense, loves to rebound, and could be fixture for years. I don't care how talented DeMarcus Cousins might be. The Heat have great chemistry, why screw it up? -- Al, St. Petersburg.

A: And nobody is saying they will. And a Whiteside trade is unlikely because of his limited value as an impending free agency, to be nothing more than a rental for any team acquiring him. But there remain questions about how much Whiteside matters to the overall chemistry, with a team defensive rating that is higher with him off the floor and with some of the team's best lineup combinations including other players. There still is too small of a sample size to make enduring judgments just yet.

December 17, 2015

Q: Ira, loved Dwyane Wade and the "bag of tricks" in Brooklyn. I'll take that Wade any night. But everything else stopped once he got going. That works against the Nets. Will it work against the rest of the league? -- Thomas.

A: I think this is a case of different horses for different courses (although based on Dwyane's mouth issues, perhaps it was more like different "hoarses" for different "coarses"). During the regular season, you do what you need to do to beat each individual opponent. Sunday it was Wade at the finish against the Grizzlies. Monday in Atlanta it was less Wade and more of everyone else. Wednesday it was Wade's solo offense in the fourth quarter and lockdown team defense, with the Nets 6 of 22 from the field over the final 12 minutes. Can Wade do it alone against the elite teams? It probably won't be as simple as it was against an opponent that is little more than a hot mess at the moment. So you work through all the possibilities during the regular season. Then, at a certain point, you piece together game plans for individual opponents in the playoffs. Without Wade, there likely would have been no win in Brooklyn. And wins are good, no matter the variety. So you take it and you move on.

Q: Hassan Whiteside looked like he had a great night. Then you look at the plus/minus and it looks real bad. What is the real story? -- Noah, Fort Lauderdale.

A: It depends: Do you prefer watching box scores or watching games? If you watched the game, you would have seen 20 points, 13 rebounds and two blocked shots in a 104-98 victory. If you would have watched the box score, you would have seen Hassan close at a minus-eight. So you're going to tell me that Chris Bosh had the better night because he was plus-11 despite shooting 1 of 7? I guess you could. But what Whiteside offered Wednesday should be embraced.

Q: If the Brooklyn Nets do buy out Joe Johnson can you see Miami picking him up? -- Ben.

A: Um, did you see Joe on Wednesday night against the Heat? At this stage, would you want him taking minutes from Gerald Green? Or Tyler Johnson? We are a long, long way out from buyout season, with the trading deadline not until late February. You'll be hearing lots of names from struggling teams in coming weeks and months. You also will be seeing contenders coalescing, and perhaps not wanting to disrupt chemistry. But you are correct that there rarely is a former All-Star on the buyout list that doesn't attract at least cursory attention from the Heat. All of that said, the Heat also have 15 players under guaranteed contract and remain hard against the NBA's "repeater" luxury tax. So any addition will add to the payroll (even if just a small amount by adding a minimum player in late February or March). Of course, Caron Butler's name already is out there. I'm just not sure the Heat want to alter the roster at this stage.

December 16, 2015

Q: I really disagree with this whole Hassan Whiteside trade situation (if it's true). I feel Dwight Howard is not worth Whiteside, first of all. Howard is constantly in and out the lineup due to injuries, and we have enough players tied to injuries, He is a worse liability for the Hack-a-Shaq strategy than Whiteside. And, finally, Whiteside has more youth and athleticism. Howard is about to exit his prime; Whiteside has just entered his. If they were to trade Whiteside, I'd only be open for DeMarcus Cousins. We would miss what Hassan brings on defense, but we will get back what Cousins brings offensively. And we'd be able to space the floor more since Cousins can shoot. What is your opinion, Ira? -- Earl, Jersey City.

A: I already posted my thoughts in a Tuesday blog entry. First, there is no "situation." The Heat talk to everyone about everything just about every day. That's what teams do. But I was told Tuesday there is nothing in the works, so I'll go with that for now, leaving open the possibility that just about everything gets revisited in the NBA. As for Howard, if the speculation includes Justise Winslow as a component of a Howard-Whiteside deal, then that's where the talk should cease. I would not trade Winslow straight up for Dwight. And, as I mentioned in my blog post, and as you have stated, there is way too much baggage with Dwight to give up anything of consequence. He seems to grow dissatisfied with just about every situation (Magic, Lakers and now Rockets). There always seems to be a nagging injury (especially the back, with is among the most troublesome injury concerns). And the game is moving away from what he tends to do best on the offensive end. Cousins? I've said it before and I'll say it again, I would strongly consider such a deal, as much for the cap consequences as skill sets. Cousins would give you a defined price point. With Whiteside, there still is so much unknown about where he will fall in free agency, with the Heat, or any team that acquires him, having no option but cap space to meet his eventual demands.

Q: I'm sure you're being bombarded by questions regarding the Chris Sheridan article and I know you've explained the Heat's cap situation in the past, but I think it might be best to refresh your readers on next summer's situation. The Sheridan article claims that if the Heat don't renounce Dwyane Wade's rights then we can't sign Whiteside for more than $8 million. While this is true, we would more than likely renounce Wade's rights to get more cap space correct? This would leave us with something along the lines of $42 million in cap space to re-sign Whiteside, Wade and whoever else? -- Andrew, Miami.

A: You don't have to renounce anyone. You could simply sign Wade to a new deal first, thereby eliminating his cap hold. My math is a bit lower than yours than when it comes to what the Heat would have for free agents, with that number around $37 million. But I don't think there is anything near a definitive read on Hassan's market price at this stage, nor do we know how low Wade would go in exchange for more years and the possibility to play alongside an outside free agent that he finds appealing. I still believe that if Wade and Whiteside are re-signed, there will be nothing close to ample funds for a top-tier free agent, let alone a max-level talent. But, who knows, maybe someone takes Josh McRoberts for a draft pick. To refresh (I think this is what you were looking for): Bosh, Dragic, McRoberts, Winslow and the Tyler Johnson cap hold put the Heat at about $50 million against a 2016-17 cap projected at about $89 million. Then there are cap holds that you have to figure in. So even if you put Wade at a 50-percent cut to $10 million and Whiteside at a bargain $15 million (highly unlikely), that still leaves only about $12 million to finish off the rest of the roster. Wade does not have to be "renounced," but rather simply re-signed first to make the math work. If that is the math the Heat choose. People, it's still early. And there are so many other permutations possible, including the aforementioned McRoberts trade option or even moving Dragic.

Q: Ira, Chris Anderson is not getting any playing time. Are the Heat intentionally keeping him out pending the start of the upcoming trading market in order to shop him healthy? He has given this team some good, energetic minutes off the bench and certainly can be just as effective as Amar'e Stoudemire or Udonis Haslem. -- Mike, Miami.

A: I can't fathom you showcase a player by not playing him, leaving other teams with no idea of what is left in the tank. I think today's centers have to be able to defend on the perimeter, especially against second units, which tend to space the floor. That is why Haslem has made more sense in recent games. I was surprised that there wasn't at least an attempt to play Birdman against Zach Randolph on Sunday. But there are not many remaining favorable matchups for Andersen against most second units.

Simple Rules For Using Options In An IRA

Using options can be a great way to maximize the returns in your individual retirement account (IRA). However, if used incorrectly, trading options can lose you money quicker than another economic crisis. With this in mind, investors should operate with a few simple rules to ensure you are using options safely and to their full potential.

First of all, under no circumstances should out-of-the money calls (or puts) be purchased in an IRA. The reality is that the vast majority of out-of-the money options end up expiring worthless. These options are used primarily for speculation purposes, or for hedging long or short positions. For example, let's say I buy 500 shares of a company that has a very real chance of going to zero, for example, First Solar (NASDAQ:FSLR ). It's one of my favorite companies, but going out of business is certainly plausible, given the instability of the sector. I could then buy five very out-of-the-money puts in order to protect myself should the stock rapidly lose value. While this kind of strategy definitely has its place in the investment world, speculation like this has no place in your retirement account.

Second, buying calls is acceptable if used correctly as a stock replacement strategy. What I mean by this is that instead of buying an expensive stock like Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL ), an investor could choose to stretch his/her money by purchasing a deep-in-the-money call instead. For example, if I were to buy 100 shares of Apple at Thursday's (10/4/2012) close, it would cost me $66,680. Instead, I could choose to buy a January 2015 $400 call, which is currently trading for around $292.00, for a total investment of $29,200. Even the most bearish analysts agree that Apple isn't going down to anywhere near $400 anytime soon, so effectively, this strategy allows you to benefit from any upside of 100 shares of Apple between now and 2015, for only 43.8% of the cost of buying the stock outright.

If Apple is worth $850 at expiration, for instance, the 100 shares of stock would be worth $85,000, which would be a 27.5% gain. The call option would be worth $45,000, which is a 54.1% gain. So, a stock replacement strategy can be an effective tool for long-term investing. However, it is important to note a couple of points. First, make sure you buy an option that is well into the money, to the point where there is almost no chance of the stock going that low again. Also, a downside of this strategy is that as an option holder, you are not entitled to any dividends. This is fine for a stock like Apple, which pays only a 1.58% dividend or Google (NASDAQ:GOOG ), which doesn't pay a dividend. It would not be appropriate for replacing a high-paying stock in your portfolio, like AT&T (NYSE:T ) or Verizon (NYSE:VZ ), which pay in excess of 5%.

Finally, use covered calls with caution. I am very adamant about the value of using covered calls and selling puts in your IRA. However, there are a few rules to follow to use them properly. Only sell puts on stocks you wouldn't mind owning if the price came down. Selling puts can be a great way to get into stocks at a discount during dips in the share price, but don't sell puts simply because you think the stock will never go down.

And lastly, when selling calls, make sure the strike price is far enough out of the money that it has a very slim chance of being called away, or if it is called away, that is it worth it. Far too often, investors will sell a call with a strike just above the share price (i. e. a $50 call on a $49.50 stock), because it commands a high premium and looks like easy money. It isn't. If that stock jumps up to $52, which almost any stock could do in a good week, you only get to keep 50 cents of the upside. If you sell a $55 call on a $49.50 stock, and the share price shoots up to $58 in a week, you still pocket a gain of over 12%, making the risk of losing upside worth the income the calls generate.

Divulgación: Soy largo AAPL. FSLR. T. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. No estoy recibiendo compensación por ello (que no sea de Buscando Alpha). No tengo ninguna relación comercial con ninguna compañía cuyas acciones se mencionan en este artículo.

OM Securities, LLC, formerly doing business as tradeMONSTER, is now doing business as OptionsHouse.

OptionsHouse does not provide investment, tax or legal advice. Options and futures transactions involve risk and are not suitable for all investors. Electronic trading poses unique risk to investors. System response and access times may vary due to market conditions, system performance and other factors. Refer to Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options | Risk Disclosure Statement for Futures and Options | Risk Statements and Disclosures | Privacy Statement | Terms & Condiciones. copies of which can also be obtained by contacting our Customer Service Department at 1-877-598-3190 or customerservice@optionshouse.com. Un inversionista debe entender estos y riesgos adicionales antes de negociar.

OptionsHouse Roth IRA Review

September 15, 2011

If you are interested in trading options inside your Roth IRA, pay attention to this review. OptionsHouse. com is one of the leading options trading firms that allows you to hold a Roth IRA with them. Let's dig in to why OptionsHouse is a great place to hold your Roth IRA.

OptionsHouse was Built for Options Traders

The company was founded with the specific target market of options traders. They don't even market the ability to invest in mutual funds. Your trading needs to be focused on options contracts and stocks for OptionsHouse to benefit you.

OptionsHouse was Built by Options Traders

Imagine if one of the largest professional options trading houses in the world decided to build a retail trading platform based on their experience from Wall Street. Wouldn't you expect the best out of that platform? That's essentially what you are getting with OptionsHouse. How good is the trading platform? The company was ranked as the #1 firm for options traders by Barron's and given a rating of 4.5 stars out of 5 in 2011.

Investment Options

As mentioned, you need to be interested in two types of trading to use OptionsHouse. com . option contracts and stocks. These investments require more knowledge of investing and are more risky than an index mutual fund. We recommend you try out OptionsHouse. com's virtual trading before jumping in with two feet. Once you feel comfortable, start with a small amount of money and be absolutely sure to set limit orders above and below your positions so you don't go broke when a trade goes bad.

Fees and Contract Rates

With a niche product focus you might expect higher commissions, but that is simply not the case with OptionsHouse.

Stock Trades:

Your stock trades will only cost you $4.75 per trade. That is practically unbeatable when compared to other brokerage firms.

Options Contracts:

With options you have two tiers of commissions. You can get 5 contracts for $5 trade cost (plus $1 a for every contract above 5) or simply pay $8.50 per trade plus $0.15 per contract. This works out to where if you trade up to 10 contracts, you pay just $10. Above 10 contracts it makes more sense to pay the slightly higher trade fee with the lower contract charge.

Mutual Funds:

The company will charge you a $9.95 fee to buy/sell shares in a mutual fund.

Can I Trade Options in a Roth IRA?

With OptionsHouse. com you can do the following inside of a Roth IRA:

buy and sell stocks

invest in mutual funds (although this is not heavily advertised)

buy call and put options

sell covered calls

sell cash-secured puts

Pros and Cons of Investing with OptionsHouse

If you want options, the platform was designed for your success.

If you want inexpensive stock trades, you've found them.

If you want a mobile platform for options trading, OptionsHouse has it.

If you want to use a small percentage of your portfolio to "play" in options, this is a fine place to do it.

If you want to invest in mutual funds, you can, but the platform wasn't built for that. You won't get the in-depth research you will find at other brokerages.

If you are uninformed about the risks of options trading, you should get educated first.

There is a $20 fee to close your Roth IRA.

What are you waiting for? Get started today and open an account with OptionsHouse. com !

Planifique su jubilación con un IRA de TD Ameritrade

Empezar

Tradicional Versus Roth IRA

Conversiones Roth IRA

Abre tu cuenta

TD Ameritrade ofrece cuentas IRA para ayudarle a alcanzar sus metas basadas en su estilo de vida e ingresos. Ver todos los tipos de cuentas de jubilación para determinar el que sea adecuado para usted. Una vez que hayas decidido, debes abrir tu cuenta para empezar.

Edad Requerimientos: Varía según el estado, pero la mayoría requiere que usted tenga 18 años de edad. Algunos pocos requieren que tenga 19 años para iniciar un IRA. Debe verificar el requisito legal en su estado.

Abrir una cuenta

If you can, choose an online broker

Now that you’ve decided to open a Roth IRA, you’d probably like to know how to open one. The mechanics of opening an account are fairly simple, but first you need to decide where you want to park your money. That takes a bit more work, but if you follow a few principles, you’ll be investing–wisely–in no time.

It’s difficult these days to find a bank, discount broker or mutual fund company that doesn’t offer the option to open and access a Roth IRA account online. If you have access to a computer and a basic level of Internet skill, this is unquestionably the way to go. If you don’t, you’ll need to head to your local bank branch or brokerage firm and sign up in person (how decidedly 20th-century of you). & Gt;

Given the many advantages—in time, convenience and fees—of working with online banks and brokerages, we’ll focus on that approach. The number of institutions offering online access is far too big to list, but you likely already know the names of some of the bigger names: brokerage firms such as Schwab and TD Ameritrade, mutual funds such as Fidelity and Vanguard; and banks such as Bank of America and ING Direct. If one of the big firms isn’t in your town, your local bank most likely offers retirement accounts. Given their size, however, their online offerings may be more limited and their fees may be higher.

Avoiding fees

Repeat after me: I will not pay high fees.

Now say it again.

You have enough to worry about when choosing where to put your money to work to get a good return. Don’t make it even more difficult by signing up for an account that charges you a lot of money simply for the privilege of having an account.

Other than investing all your money into a company that is developing a better VCR, paying high fees is a sure-fire way to lower your returns. Paying some fees is inevitable; it’s one of the ways a financial institution makes money. Some, however, are greedier than others.

Fees come in many forms: account maintenance, transaction, trading, low account balance, inactivity, and many others. If a bank, mutual fund or brokerage can think of a fee, they’re likely to charge it. To minimize them, you first have to get a sense of what type of account holder you’re likely to be.

Things to ask yourself:

• Are you likely to do a lot of trading of individual stocks and bonds?

• Are you more of a buy-and-hold investor?

• Are you going to invest in mutual funds or exchange-traded funds?

• Do you only have a small amount of money to invest?

• Do you want help picking investments, or are you comfortable making your own decisions?

• Do you tend to use investment research to guide your decisions?

Depending on the answers, you can categorize yourself in one or more of the following categories, each with their own rules for avoiding fees.

Sophisticated, active investor . go for an account with low per-trade fees. Some firms will even lower trading fees after a certain number per month, quarter or year, and will offer free access to proprietary research.

Buy-and-holder . avoid accounts with high inactivity fees.

Mutual fund investor . you’ll want to pay particular attention to the fees charged by the individual funds that you invest in (these may be different than more general, administrative fees that your brokerage firm will charge for holding any type of retirement account). Mutual fund fees include account management, exchange, redemption and so-called 12b-1 fees. Account maintenance, management and 12b-1 fees are important regardless of whether you actively move in and out of different mutual funds. Mutual fund companies charge these fees to all investors to cover the cost of picking investments, marketing the fund, and general administration. You may pay exchange or redemption fees when you switch your money from one fund to another within the same fund company or when you sell your shares. These fees are most significant if you plan to move in and out of funds with some regularity. Sites such as www. morningstar. com can help you choose a low-fee fund that’s right for you.

The hand-holder . If you’d like help from a professional in setting up and managing your retirement account, be prepared to pay for it. The ideal is to find a good financial advisor who charges by the hour or a flat annual fee to manage your account. Those who get commissions based on your trading activity have an incentive to “churn” your assets; in other words, they get paid by how actively they invest, rather than how well. Other firms charge an annual management fee, often one percent of the amount in the account. It’s only worth it if, over time, the manager’s returns exceed market averages by more than one percent. Otherwise, you may want to just invest in low-cost stock and bond index funds that mimic overall market performance—rather than trying to beat it.

Compare Four Options for Your Old 401(k)

Three ways to help maximize your savings

When you retire or change jobs, you have three options for your old 401(k) that can provide continued potential tax-deferred growth opportunities. 1 Or, you can cash out; but keep in mind that taxes will apply, plus possible withdrawal penalties.

Roll over to a Fidelity IRA – Lets you consolidate your retirement accounts in one place, while continuing tax-deferred growth potential. With a Fidelity IRA, you have access to a wide range of investment options.

Roll over to a new workplace plan (if permitted) – Lets you consolidate your 401(k)s into one account, while continuing tax-deferred growth potential. Investment options vary by plan.

Stay in old workplace plan (if permitted) – Lets you continue tax-deferred growth potential; however, you can no longer contribute to the old plan. Investment options vary by plan.

preguntas frecuentes

Simply click on any of the questions to view the answer, or if you want to review the whole list, just scroll down the page.

Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs)

offers U. S. customers to choose from a Traditional, Rollover, Roth, SEP, SIMPLE or Educational IRA, with the ability to trade options, stocks, bonds and mutual funds.

To open an IRA. Visit here or click on the "Open Another Account" link at the upper right of your account. The "New Account Application" screen will appear. Under "What Kind of Account" . click on the appropriate account entity type.

The system will prompt you through the steps to create your account. (Select the specific type of IRA that you want to create)

Upon completion, you will be prompted to submit your documents electronically (and if applicable) or to print the forms. A SEP IRA requires form 5305-SEP, a Coverdell IRA requires form 5305-E, and a SIMPLE IRA requires form 5305-SIMPLE Articles I through VII.

If you have to print the forms or you choose to print the forms, please be sure to sign the IRA Account Application on the "X CUSTOMER SIGNATURE" line, and sign the IRA Designation of Beneficiary form on the "IRA HOLDER" line.

After printing the application, you may fax the application and all required documents to us at 312-629-5256 to expedite your application.

Please feel free to contact us at 888-280-8020 should you have any other questions regarding this process or if you need further assistance. Back to top | Back to Main FAQ Page What is a Traditional IRA?

A Traditional IRA is an Individual Retirement Account in which the contributions are tax-deductible if eligibility requirements are met. Please consult with your tax advisor as your income, filing status, and other retirement plans may affect your eligibility. Earnings within a Traditional IRA are tax-deferred until withdrawals begin.

Anyone received taxable compensation during the tax year. (Example: If filing jointly, their spouse.)

You may withdraw funds at any time, however; if you are under the age 59 ½ a 10% early withdrawal penalty may apply for non-qualified distributions. Eligible distributions may be taxed at the current tax rate. Please consult with your tax advisor prior to taking a distribution.

Refer to IRS Pub 590 for more information at http://www. irs. gov/ Back to top | Back to Main FAQ Page What are the key advantages of a Traditional IRA?

Contributions may be tax-deductible if eligibility requirements are met. Please consult with your tax advisor as your income, filing status, and other retirement plans may affect your eligibility.

Within your IRA, you are able to trade stocks, ETFs, bonds, mutual funds and options. To learn about trading futures in an IRA, click here .

Back to top | Back to Main FAQ Page How do I make a regular IRA contribution to my Traditional or Roth IRA?

There are several options available to deposit your yearly contribution each of which is detailed below.

ACH Deposit - Deposit via ACH with an established ACH Link. You must specify the contribution year when making the request. To set up an ACH link, please select Establish ACH. ACH Deposit requests must be received by 3:30 PM ET for same day processing.

On-Line Billpay - Deposit via on-line billpay. For details how to add as a Payee at your Bank, please refer to the On-line Billpay FAQ. Please note the contribution year must be specified in the account number field by adding the year directly after your account number with no spaces or dashes in between. Any contribution without a year designation will be deposited as current year.

Internal Transfer - Retail individual/Joint (Held in IRA Account Holder's Name) to an IRA - Internally transfer a contribution from your Individual or Joint account to your Traditional or Roth IRA with a matching Tax payer I. D. Log into your Individual or Joint account and proceed to the Transfer Funds page. Select Internal Transfer option and enter your request. You must specify the contribution year upon entering. Requests must be received by 12:00 PM ET for same day processing.

Personal Check - Send a personal check specifying contribution year on check. Check deposits will be processed as current year contributions if year not specified on check deposit. Please refer to Check FAQ for further guidelines on depositing checks.

Check deposit mailing address:

Attn: Cashiering

P. O. Box 2197

Chicago, IL 60690-2197 150 S. Wacker, 12th Floor

Chicago, Illinois 60606

Delivery by courier service which requires signature or delivery:

Attn: Cashiering

150 S. Wacker, 12th Floor

Chicago, Illinois 60606 Back to top | Back to Main FAQ Page Can I make a contribution to my Traditional or Roth IRA account from my business account? No, contributions must come from a personal account and must carry the same registration/information as the account holder. Back to top | Back to Main FAQ Page What is a Roth IRA?

An individual retirement account that allows a person to make after-tax contributions. In some cases, both earnings within the Roth IRA and withdrawals after age 59 ½ may be tax-free. As with all IRAs, there are specific eligibility and filing status requirements mandated by the IRS. Please consult with your tax advisor regarding your individual filing status.

Anyone, who received taxable compensation during the tax year. (Example: If filing jointly, their spouse.)

You may withdraw funds at any time, however; please keep in mind that the distribution has to meet the IRS' guidelines to qualify for a tax and penalty free distribution. Please consult with your tax advisor on the qualifications for taking such a distribution.

Refer to IRS Pub 590-B for more info at http://www. irs. gov/ Back to top | Back to Main FAQ Page What are the key advantages of a Roth IRA?

Contribution are not tax-deductible

Earnings are tax-free (subject to certain limitations)

Distributions: Qualified Withdrawals are tax-free.

Please consult with your tax advisor prior to taking a distribution

Beginning in 2010, there is no gross income limit for converting a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA. You may request a partial or full conversion of your retirement account. Tenga en cuenta que una conversión puede ser un evento imponible en el año en que se realiza la conversión.

Both the Traditional and Roth IRA must be held at

Complete our system generated distribution form available on the Transfer Funds page under Related Links. Please select Conversion as the Distribution reason and complete form. (Must be logged into the distributing IRA)

Back to top | Back to Main FAQ Page What is a SEP IRA-Simplified Employee Pension Plan?

SEP IRAs are retirement plans for self-employed people or owners of small companies.

SEP IRAs permit employers to make tax deductible contributions on behalf of themselves and their employees without complicated administration and with lower cost.

Please read important IRA disclosure information. Back to top | Back to Main FAQ Page Who is eligible for a SEP IRA?

If you are self-employed, you can make contributions based on your earned-income compensation with maximum contribution levels designated by the IRS.

If you are an employer, you may start a SEP for your employees.

If your employer offers a SEP plan you may participate.

Refer to IRS Pub 560 for more info at http://www. irs. gov/ Back to top | Back to Main FAQ Page What are the key advantages of a SEP IRA?

Established and funded by self-employed individuals or small business

Must be established and funded by the employer's tax filing deadline, including extensions

Contributions are limited to 25% of compensation or $53,000, whichever is less.

Contributions within the limit is deductible on the employer's business tax return

Earnings grow on a tax-deferred basis

Refer to IRS Pub 560 for more info at http://www. irs. gov/ Back to top | Back to Main FAQ Page How do I make a contribution to my SEP IRA?

If you are self-employed and are making contributions based on earned compensation, you may send funds directly to .

The maximum compensation on which contributions can be based is $265,000 for 2016(2015). For self-employed individuals, compensation means earned income.

Contributions can be made from a personal account or from a business account in the name of the employer.

Age 59 ½ or later. 10% penalty will apply for non-qualified withdrawals. Eligible withdrawals will be taxed at the current tax rate.

A SIMPLE IRA is a retirement plan that may be established by employers, including self-employed individuals (usually less than 100 employees)

This type of plan allows eligible employees to contribute part of their pretax compensation to the plan. This means the tax on the money is deferred until it is distributed.

If your employer offers a SIMPLE plan you may participate. If you are an employer, you may start a SIMPLE for your employees.

*NOTE: If you are a participant in another plan under a collective bargaining agreement you may not qualify for a Simple IRA.

SIMPLE plans are funded by employer contributions and/or by elective employee salary deferrals without complicated administration and with lower costs.

Trade Stocks, ETF, bonds, mutual funds and options.

You may withdraw funds at any time, however; unlike Traditional and Roth IRAs a Simple IRA has a Two-Year waiting period prior to taking a distributions.

Please consult your tax advisor prior to taking a distribution from this type of IRA.

Back to top | Back to Main FAQ Page What is a Coverdell Education Savings Account - ESA (Educational IRA)?

A Coverdell Education Savings Account (ESA) is an account created to assist families in funding educational expenses for Beneficiaries under the age of 18 or special needs. Contributions to a Coverdell Education Savings account are not tax deductible.

If your child is under the age of 18 or a special needs, you may make a contribution.

Refer to the IRS site for more information at http://www. irs. gov/ Back to top | Back to Main FAQ Page What are the Key advantages of a Coverdell Education Savings Account - ESA (Educational IRA)?

All earnings accumulate on a tax-deferred basis and can be withdrawn from the account tax-free, when used for qualified education expenses.

Can trade stocks, ETF, bonds, mutual funds and options.

Back to top | Back to Main FAQ Page When can you withdraw from a Coverdell Education Savings Account - ESA (Educational IRA)?

Distribution may be taken at any time for qualified education expenses. The earnings portion of distributions that are not used for qualified expenses may be subject to ordinary income tax, plus a 10% penalty.

No penalty exists for withdrawals due to death, disability or scholarship. The balance remaining in the Coverdell ESA must be distributed or transferred to another eligible family member prior to the beneficiary attaining the age of 30.

** Please consult with your advisor prior to taking a distribution

A Rollover IRA is a Traditional IRA that is often used by individuals who have changed jobs or retired and have assets in their employer-sponsored retirement plan, such as a 401(k), 403(b) Defined Benefit Plan etc.

Please read important IRA disclosure information. Back to top | Back to Main FAQ Page Who is eligible for a Rollover IRA? Anyone is eligible for a Rollover IRA, who is looking to move their qualified employer retirement plan in to a self-directed IRA. Back to top | Back to Main FAQ Page What are the key advantages of a Rollover IRA?

Assets may be transferred to an employer plan, if their agreement allows it

Contributions may be tax-deductible if eligibility requirements are met. Please consult with your tax advisor as your income, filing status, and other retirement plans may affect your eligibility.

Within your IRA, you are able to trade stocks, ETFs, bonds, mutual funds and options.

Back to top | Back to Main FAQ Page When can you withdraw from a Rollover IRA? You may withdraw funds at any time, however; if you are under the age of 59 ½ a 10% early withdrawal penalty may apply for non-qualified distributions. Eligible distributions may be taxed at the current tax rate. Please consult with your tax advisor prior to taking a distribution. Back to top | Back to Main FAQ Page Can I roll over an existing 401K into an IRA? If you are changing jobs or retiring, you can roll a 401k plan (403b, PSP, MPP) into an Traditional or Rollover IRA account. To facilitate the rollover of funds, contact the 401k plan administrator for the distribution paperwork. Your fund administrator will then distribute the funds payable to your IRA. The trustee of the IRA will be Equity Trust Company, but the plan administrator should make funds payable to for the benefit of (FBO) your name and mail it to us. If the check is made payable directly to you, a Rollover Certification form must accompany the check. Back to top | Back to Main FAQ Page Can futures be traded in an IRA? Futures accounts are limited to accounts coded for margin. Since IRA accounts are prohibited from trading on margin, these accounts are not eligible for futures trading. Back to top | Back to Main FAQ Page Where do I mail or fax my application or supplemental documentation to?

You may fax or mail your completed IRA application and additional paper work to. Fax documents to:

ATTN: New accounts

Mail documents to:

(Delivery by courier service which requires signature or delivery)

Attn: Cashiering

150 S. Wacker, 12th Floor

Chicago, Illinois 60606 Back to top | Back to Main FAQ Page Do you allow equity and index options trading in IRAs?

Yes, we allow trading of equity and index options in IRAs based on the trading level assigned to an investor. Trading in IRAs includes call buying, put buying, cash-secured put writing, spreads, and covered calls. Please refer to our futures FAQs for questions regarding futures and futures options trading in IRAs.

Anyone considering trading options in a retirement account may wish to read the CBOE's publication on options trading strategies in IRAs and Keoghs. Back to top | Back to Main FAQ Page Do you offer Margin in an IRA account?

No, as margin is not permitted per the IRS' rules and regulations. However; we do allow for more advanced equity and index option trading based on the trading level assigned to each investor. The following restrictions do apply to all IRA accounts:

Cannot borrow funds creating a debit cash balance.

Cannot short a stock.

Not allowed to sell naked options.

Cross margining of stock and options not allowed.

Day trading is restricted to start of day buying power.

Portfolio Margin is not available for IRA accounts.

Back to top | Back to Main FAQ Page How long will it to take to transfer an IRA from another firm to. Account transfers can take approximately a week and a half once paperwork has been received. However; in some cases they can take 7 to 30 business days should additional documentation be required or based on what is being transferred out. Back to top | Back to Main FAQ Page What are the IRA contribution limits for 2016?

Please note these are maximum contributions dependent on both your modified Adjusted Gross Income and Tax Filing Status.

Can I trade Futures in an IRA?

Justin LeBlang May 13, 2015 22:48

Yes, futures trading is permitted in IRA accounts, however a customer must setup the IRA through a separate custodian of which our clearing firm, Wedbush Futures has an established relationship.

The IRA Custodians are:

AdvantaIRA Trust, LLC

Millennium Trust Company

Your futures IRA can take from three (3) weeks to set up (for new IRAs) to eight (8) weeks (for transferring or rolling over an existing IRA, or Roth IRA).

Complete the MB Trading Futures (MBTF) IRA account paperwork with a copy of your valid unexpired government issued identification.

After completing MBTF paperwork, go to IRA Custodian’s website

Select " Futures " as the investment type and complete the IRA Custodian’s application .

Please submit the completed MBTF IRA Futures Account Application plus the IRA Custodian documents to IRA Custodian, not MB Trading Futures.

Please contact a New accounts representative for more information.

Forex Trading Your IRA Account

What is an IRA Account?

In the United States we have special retirement accounts called an IRA, or an Individual Retirement Account. An IRA is special only because of tax ramifications. The most popular types of IRA accounts are:

Traditional IRA: allows you to deduct contributions from your income to reduce your tax liability. The money in the IRA can grow tax-free, but after you retire and you begin withdrawing the money, you will have to pay income tax on the withdrawals at the current tax rate. The general theory is that when you retire your income will be smaller, therefore you are in a lower tax bracket and will have to pay less.

Roth IRA: contributions into a Roth IRA are not tax deductible. Your post-tax income must be used. However, the IRA can grow tax-free and you do not pay taxes on the money when you withdraw it. People who plan on being richer and in a higher tax bracket when they retire prefer a Roth IRA.

Note this information is intended to be "general" and not "specific" and is accurate to the best of our knowledge as of August 2012. Please consult your accountant for specifics!

Where is My IRA? Who Manages It?

Many people in the United States may have an IRA account through their employer or through an investment advisor but they have no idea how it works or who manages it. Here is a basic overview.

All IRA accounts are managed by an IRA Custodian.

The IRA Custodian company is responsible for the maintenance of the IRA, handling deposits and distributions, and executing the investment decisions (buying stocks or mutual funds, etc.)

The IRA Custodian company also handles all of the paperwork involved with reporting requirements.

If you do not know who your IRA custodian is or how to contact them, it is suggested that you find out and write down their contact information. If you decide to change your investment strategies you will need to be able to reach them.

Typical IRA Investment Methods

Most IRAs are invested in the stock market through one method or another. Since an IRA is intended to be savings for retirement, investment advisors will usually suggest a very conservative approach using mutual funds. Most banks even offer an IRA custodial service that allows you to park your IRA in a CD or Money Market account.

Many people don't realize that an IRA can also invest in individual stocks, metals, commodities, futures, and even forex.

Alternative IRA Investments

First it is important to note that we never, under any circumstances, recommend investing all of your retirement savings in any high-risk market, especially not Forex. You should consult with an investment advisor before making any decisions.

If you want to, you can invest your IRA in almost anything, as long as your IRA Custodian supports it. In order to open a Forex trading account, your IRA Custodian must be willing to open a "Spot Forex Trading Account" on your behalf with the broker of your choice. Most IRA Custodians don't because their sole focus is in stocks or mutual funds.

Most IRA Custodians in the USA will only work with a CFTC-Registered brokerage firm. And many will have a list of Futures and Forex brokers that they already have relationships with. If your preferred broker isn't in the list, they may not be able to open the account for you.

All IRA Accounts Have Fees

One thing that may be shocking is that all IRA accounts have fees.

If your IRA has historically only invested in mutual funds, you may have never seen these fees, but you paid them regardless. The IRA custodian may receive a type of "commission" on your investment that covers their cost to maintain your IRA.

Most IRA Custodians that offer self-directed options (such as Forex trading) charge an annual fee for the IRA custodial service rather than a percentage of your investment. There are other fees as well, such as one-time fees for opening trading accounts.

Typical IRA / Forex Setup Process

The specific steps involved may vary from one IRA custodian to the next, but this is a general overview of the typical process a person will go through when setting up an IRA account to trade in the Forex market.

Select an IRA custodian to handle the record-keeping and paperwork for your IRA.

Select a suitable Forex broker that your custodian supports.

Fill out the application and open your account with the IRA Custodian.

Transfer the funds from the old IRA custodian to the new IRA custodian, or make a new contribution.

Submit the request to the new IRA custodian for them to open the new trading account on your behalf. (often this involves a standard Individual Account application with the broker, then the IRA custodian adds their stamp/paperwork to your application)

Submit the request to transfer funds from the new IRA custodian into the trading account.

It can take anywhere from 1-6 weeks to go through this process depending on your individual situation. Greg Degilio from AdvantaIRA (see contact info below) has worked hard to bring their average setup time down to only 7-10 days.

Popular IRA Custodians

There are many IRA custodians that can open a Forex trading account on your behalf. You may also contact your preferred broker and ask which IRA custodian they like to work with. Here are the most popular:

Millennium Trust Company - http://www. mtrustcompany. com

Note: Our contact at AdvantaIRA Trust is Patrick Paul. His direct phone number with extension is (239) 333-1032 x121. Or submit the contact form on the AdvantaIRA website and ask for Patrick Paul.

Questions Regarding IRA Accounts

This article is intended to provide a general overview of Forex trading with an IRA account. No information in this article is specific. The details may vary from one IRA custodian to another. It is recommended that you consult with your accountant, investment advisor, and/or IRA custodian with any questions you may have.