Q: Ira, we already know that this Heat team will be elite on defense. With Hassan Whiteside, Justise Winslow and Josh Richardson we've got some really good defenders. If Erik Spoelstra can make it work on offense, this team could be special. -- Mac, Toronto.

A: That, of course, is if Josh Richardson is in the starting lineup. To take the thought further, Chris Bosh is one of the Heat's most versatile defenders. So if he's back, you could be set defensively at center (Whiteside), power forward (Bosh), small forward (Winslow) and shooting guard (should Richardson start ahead of Dion Waiters and Wayne Ellington). But if Bosh isn't back, then you could find yourself offensively challenged, which could have Spoelstra somewhat compromising his values, by possibly opting for the offense of Waiters or Ellington. Beyond that, James Johnson has had his defensive moments, but is somewhat limited on offense. It will be interesting to see how Spoelstra plays it, especially if there is a desire to keep the offense at speed behind Goran Dragic at point guard.

Q: From everything I've seen, read, and heard, Dion Waiters is a player who needs the ball in his hands, which would clash with Goran Dragic in the same way Dwyane Wade did. Except that was Dwyane Wade and not Dion Waiters. I think a backcourt of Waiters and Dragic would be a disaster, and that Waiters is much better suited to have the ball in his hands with the second unit. -- Matt.

A: Agree. Which is why I am curious what/if the Heat might have told Waiters to get him to agree to the $2.9 million exception, a major cut from what he earned last season and could have received by taking his qualifying offer from the Thunder. And if you play Waiters in the second unit, then you could do it alongside a swing-type point guard (either Josh Richardson or Tyler Johnson), which would allow Waiters to play on the ball more often. Or . . . is this the time when Waiters has to be convinced to play more off the ball, as Wade did when the Heat had LeBron James. That could, in turn, unlock Waiters' possibility for the larger contract he assuredly will be seeking.

Q: Would Ray Allen come back to the Heat? -- Steve.

A: While Ray expressed an interest in return to the NBA during his youth camp in Connecticut, as he has done the past two offseasons, he also said he is not interested in playing for a rebuilding team, since that would be more of a move into a coaching type of role. And I'm not sure it ended well enough with the Heat with Ray to want back into the Heat locker room. I still believe a return is a longshot after two full seasons away from the game.