Q: Yes, there was over-focus on Russell Westbrook as a free agent, but what was ever Plan B, aside from NBA purgatory or praying for Justise Winslow to become Kawhi Leonard? -- Daniel.

A: That is the issue. Enough with the promoting (or the surrogate promoting) of the quick fix. That simply is not NBA reality. It rarely is one move that pushes the needle from empty to full. It is a series of well-calculated moves (mixed in with a sufficient amount of good fortune) that ultimately puts a team on the track to a significantly better record. And the possibilities are there for the Heat, with growth from Hassan Whiteside and Justise Winslow, as well as upgrades from Josh Richardson and Tyler Johnson. If those four become take-notice players, it will help attract other players who want to work as catalysts. And then there has to be maximization of the upcoming draft pick, which puts the Heat's scouting staff back on notice. What it can't be (and now won't be) is the notion that a full-max salary slot will, by itself, deliver salvation. Just as a team has to be five-men on a string, so now does every element of the Heat's developmental and scouting staff have to work in lockstep. "All In" has to be a term that transcends the lineup when it comes to overhauling a roster.

Q: Ira, I know you're not playing the "what-if" game. But if the Heat knew Dwyane Wade wasn't staying, would they have pushed harder to keep Luol Deng. I find it hard to believe he wanted to deal with the Lakers' rebuilding. -- Rolf.

A: Based on what Luol got from the Lakers, at $72 million over four years, I doubt the Heat would have go with such multiple years with any free agent when they didn't want to do that with Dwyane. In fact, if there would have been a case of "what if" with the Heat, I think it might have been the $21 million that Joe Johnson got from the Jazz over two years. As somewhat of a Wade stop-gap, you can make an argument for one Joe Johnson over what the Heat spent combined on James Johnson, Wayne Ellington and Derrick Williams. But I do believe Deng will be missed, considering the friendship he built with Goran Dragic.

Q: Ira, you wrote about the Heat getting better with their shooting. What makes you think that can be the case? -- Michael.

A: Because of the work the Heat accomplished with Josh Richardson and Tyler Johnson, and because Justise Winslow was so off with some of his attempts last season that there clearly is room for improvement. To be candid, what really has to happen is that Goran Dragic has to return to his mean. He has shot .312 (last season) and .329 (in 2014-15) on 3-pointers with the Heat, after shooting .347 and .406 with the Suns the previous two seasons. If he gets back to that, the floor will open for the rest of the roster.