Ira Winderman answering a reader’s question about Kyle Lowry:

A:The Heat have way too much invested in Kyle Lowry to have him as anything but a big-minutes, big-time contributor. Say what you want about Kyle’s age or injury in last season’s playoffs, but when you have $58 million committed to him over these next two seasons, you had darn well better get a return on that investment. He needs to be a lot better than he was Wednesday. A lot. And, yes, at that price point it is reasonable to have an expectation of him being an every-night player. At $85 million over three years, an expectation of greatness does not seem unreasonable. And while the Heat are a meritocracy, and while Gabe Vincent had his moments in last season’s playoffs, if Kyle Lowry is not a lot better than seen in the playoffs or on Wednesday night, then this suddenly stands as a house of cards. But, yes, it is early. And Kyle was a quality contributor last season before stepping away from the team. He needs to get back to that. I would think he would agree.

The way Ira began his answer is my nightmare. With Micky Arison the suspicion is that it’s all about money. Ira even uses the financial terms, “invested,” “return on investment.” The reader’s question made clear that he, and every rational “Heat” follower, believes that Kyle is NOT going “to be a lot better than be was Wednesday night.” The question really is, “Now that Arison's money is LOST, what do the "Heat" do?" Ira is right that the Lowry of last season’s playoffs and of Wednesday night exposes the “Heat” as “a house of cards,” but for Ira and “Heat” management there is no alternative because “The Heat have way too much invested in Kyle Lowry..."