Q: Ira, the Heat are playing a shell game. Going into the tax is not the same as being hard capped. The Heat can go into the tax and spend as much as they want. – Ted.

A: Correct. So, yes, they were and remain free to sign a 15th player to a standard contract, with the only penalty being a move into the luxury tax. They only would become hard-capped if they spend more of the mid-level exception than what they gave to Caleb Martin or if they spend the bi-annual exception. But being in the tax does create repercussions down the road, which could prove tricky for the Heat if a significant extension is forthcoming for Tyler Herro. The timing of this question came in the wake of the 76ers signing Montrezl Harrell. So, ultimately, whether it is the tax or the hard cap, it comes down to the perceived value added of such a roster more. The Heat clearly did not feel strongly enough about Harrell.

Q: Will the Duncan Robinson contract go down as one of the worst contracts in Heat history? He’s the fourth-highest paid player on the team. Not only did he lose his starting role, but his production off the bench is so poor that he didn’t play at all in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals. He’s not tradable. No team wants him or that bloated contract. – Michael, Cutler Bay.

A: He will get every shot at redemption until his salary can be utilized in a trade. Some were saying the same about the contracts of Dion Waiters and James Johnson, and those were flipped to acquire Andre Iguodala and Jae Crowder on the way to the 2020 NBA Finals. Salary ballast is a necessary component at times. So it could come down to the end game with his contract.

Q: Do the Heat really believe that Caleb Martin is a good replacement for P.J. Tucker? – Brian.

A: Do they have any choice? Then again, be candid, at this point a year ago was there much of a groundswell regarding P.J. Tucker as the starting power forward? Some thought the job might go to Markieff Morris. Erik Spoelstra has excelled at crafting a playing style around the composition of his roster. That will have to be the case again.

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