Q: Ira, isn’t it about time that Pat Riley dusts off his old rolodex and starts making some phone calls from his rotary dial landline to general managers around the league? He seems to be getting too complacent, and we are missing out on golden trade opportunities, like the Knicks just got with Karl-Anthony Towns, who would have been the perfect complement next to Bam Adebayo. – Greg, Jacksonville.

A: But it isn’t that simple – whether one opts to work analog or digitally. To receive, you have to have something to offer – the right something to offer. The Knicks had Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo and a protected first-round pick to send out to the Timberwolves for Karl-Anthony Towns. For the Heat, the closest to replicating such a package for Towns would have been, say, Jimmy Butler, Duncan Robinson and the Heat’s only remaining available first-round pick. And, yes, we said Jimmy Butler, simply because he would be the lone Randle-like wing scorer of that pedigree to put into play. And face it, whether a cell phone or landline, that would have been met first with a chuckle from the ‘Wolves and then a resulting dial tone. Of the 29 places Jimmy could be sent, Minnesota is the least likely landing spot. The reality is the Heat are not trading Bam Adebayo, would have difficulty dealing Jimmy Butler because of his contract situation, and have already tried to trade Tyler Herro. So the best the Heat could offer at this stage is a package built off the youth of Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Nikola Jovic, which is not what the win-now ‘Wolves were seeking, and a package that seemingly couldn’t pass muster a year ago in the permutations with the Trail Blazers for Damian Lillard.

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Q: The New York Knicks have a really nice fantasy basketball team. Let’s see how this new team plays together. Julius Randle was a force on offense and they will miss Donte DiVincenzo’s inspirational play. DiVincenzo makes winning plays. – Stuart, Miami.

A: Recent NBA seasons have shown it is about more than just talent, with the Phoenix Suns among the most recent examples, and various renditions of the Nets, as well. And even the Celtics before they finally got their title had to find the right mix.. Still loaded with talent is better than having to compensate for the lack thereof. So now we see how the Knicks deal with expectations, in a city that is all about expectations.

Q: The NBA did it again. Just before the season starts, all the focus goes back to the Knicks. – Alan.

A: And, as always, to the Lakers, as well. Mix in the Celtics, and the other 27 teams might as well simply step to the side, out of the focus of the national cameras and discourse.