Q: I’m glad that the Heat did not do with Kendrick Nunn what they did with Yante Maten. You have to let young players grow, especially when they go undrafted. Now, Ira, we have to get him into the rotation. — Gio.

A: At this stage, with the guarantee only up to $150,000 at Thursday’s deadline, it would not have made any sense not to move forward with Kendrick Nunn. In fact, if the Heat did not pick up that nominal guarantee, I believe several teams would have put in waiver claims to get Kendrick at the league minimum. At the least, Kendrick, through his play at the end of last season in the G League with the Warriors’ affiliate, and then in summer league with the Heat, showed he is an NBA player. In fact, I’m not sure at this stage how much more seasoning would be needed in the G League, if the Heat were to carry him past their final cut and then consider an assignment. The question now becomes whether playing will follow, and whether he would actually be able to compete with Dion Waiters and Tyler Herro for minutes. It could come down to whether Justise Winslow is cast as a forward, in which case Kendrick could possibly slot in as the backup point guard. Of course, should the Heat move off one of their backcourt veterans in a trade, it could completely swing the door open. He certainly is a fascinating prospect.

Q: The Heat’s “assets” are a bunch of mediocre players that will not take the Heat to the next level. — Robert.

A: To a degree, I believe the Heat recognize as much. Not in a negative sense, but in the sense that these are players who can help lift teammates, while not necessarily being leading men. Those often are the type of players who could wind up coveted elsewhere, to support the type of talent the Heat do not necessarily have at the moment. If you are asking whether the Heat’s 1A to Jimmy Butler is in place, I would agree that is not the case. But it doesn’t mean the Heat can’t cobble attractive trade packages. Actually, I would argue that the Heat’s leading asset, the expiring contract of Goran Dragic, could take the Heat to the next level on the trade market between now at the February NBA trading deadline.

Q: I’m sure Pat Riley thought of Lamar Odom when he saw KZ Okpala and when Riley saw Odom he thought of Magic Johnson. Three future second rounders for KZ? Riley saw something. KZ’s only weakness is himself. If they can get him to be more aggressive, he’ll be a steal. — William.

A: I’m not quite ready to go to Lamar Odom or Magic Johnson as the comparison, but KZ Okpala in the open court was the best KZ Okpala at Stanford. The problem was when he got to the part of the court that wasn’t as open. The decision-making still needs plenty of work, which will require plenty of reining in.