Flailing Knicks won’t dump D’Antoni — yet
N.Y. probably wants to see if coach will be draw for 2010 free agents
Kevork Djansezian / Getty ImagesWill Mike D'Antoni be a draw for free agents this offseason? That's what Knicks president Donnie Walsh must ascertain before deciding whether to keep the coach.
Q: Hi Ira, do you think the Miami Heat will trade for Chris Bosh or wait until free agency?
— Michael, Aventura, Fla.
A: That, of course, comes down to the decision of Raptors general manager Bryan Colangelo.
But I do see the Raptors at a somewhat interesting crossroads, with their recent struggles.
If things don't turn around soon, it could become apparent to all involved that Bosh is not returning. With Toronto having spent any possible future cap space with this past summer's overhaul, Bosh knows no injection of fresh talent is on the horizon.
Colangelo has contended that even if Bosh decides to leave, the best avenue for both player and team would be a sign-and-trade transaction next summer that would land a replacement part.
Still, if the offers are tempting enough, and if Toronto is well out of playoff contention by the trading deadline, I could see the Raptors trying to make a move.
Yet the Heat, to answer the other element of your question, might not be in such a rush for a midseason move, at least until it is firmly convinced that it has a zero-percent chance of landing LeBron James next summer.
With a boatload of cap space, the Heat can wait until July to make its moves, when it will have as much flexibility as any team in the league, as well as a better read on whether Dwyane Wade will be returning.
Q: A striking number of very good players have already missed multiple games due to injury early this season. I'm thinking, for starters, of Pau Gasol, Vince Carter, Tony Parker, Tim Duncan and Chris Paul. Are you concerned by all the injuries, and do you consider them a trend the NBA should be worried about?
— Henry, Toronto.
A: There are injuries, and there are ailments.
With injuries, there is no option but extended time off.
But I think you're seeing more and more, when it comes to players with lingering ailments, teams are taking proactive approaches with time off, such as how the Spurs are handling Manu Ginobili.
For teams with championship aspirations, getting a player right for April, May and June is far more important than squeezing an extra few games out of him in November and December. That's why you're seeing players being declared fit for a return but still sitting out an extra game or two before returning.
Lingering injuries doomed the Spurs last season. Gregg Popovich is not going to allow it to happen this season. As long as San Antonio can stay in touch with the leading contenders, you'll probably see more games with the Spurs lacking a star or two.
Where ailing players will play is with teams that are falling out of the playoff race. That's where "questionable" turns more often into "probable" when it comes to injury reports.
Q: I am a great fan of the Washington Wizards, as well as Gil, 'tawn and Tough Juice. After acquiring Mike Miller and Randy Foye for the fifth pick in the draft, I thought that Wizards could be a good team. Now, I'm a little disappointed. Is Flip Saunders the right coach for them? Is Arenas really back? Can the Wizards still be a playoff team?
— Sam, Hong Kong.
A: In the East, certainly.
I don't think the uneven start to the season should land at the feet of Saunders, who has proven capable of driving teams to the playoffs, although often losing his way once he gets them there.
I do think chemistry is an issue, and that issue might just fall at the doorstep of Arenas, who, in spite of his new massive contract, still feels as if he's measured by his statistics.
I was astonished when he surreptitiously called out Caron Butler for the team's early problems. Butler might be the most team-oriented player on the roster.
Injuries to Foye and Miller certainly haven't helped the situation. But at least Jamison is back from his shoulder problems and playing well.
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If the Wizards do choose to break up the core, it probably will come at the expense of Butler, considering the massive contracts that Arenas and Jamison are holding. But with Butler's deal running through the all-important 2010 free-agent period, even that contract might prove difficult to move.
Don't count out the Wizards just yet. Not in this conference and not with this coach. A lower seed, which was the likely target, anyway, still seems within reach.
And the passing of long-time owner Abe Pollin may re-stoke the fire.
Ira Winderman writes regularly for NBCSports.com and covers the Heat and the NBA for the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
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