Q: Hey, Ira, judging from the picture taken in the weight room of several Miami Heat players, Chris Bosh looks to have gained a lot of weight. But there are conflicting opinions on whether that weight is muscle or fat. He looks jacked. And as bad as muscle was for his knees back in the day, I always thought Bosh was at his best offensively and defensively in his bulkier days with the Raptors. What's your take on it? -- Patrick, Melbourne.

A: First, photos can lie, especially those of the Instagram variety. Second, as with Dwyane Wade trimming down a year ago and then again this offseason, I tend to defer judgment until I see a player in camp and then during the season. With Chris, the case is a bit more complex, having been away from the game since last February due to the blood clots on his lung. On one hand, that probably has given him greater opportunity to focus on the weight room. On the other hand, nothing replicates that actual conditioning gained from the up and down of scrimmaging. I do believe that Chris should be on the lighter (or at least more-agile) side this season, since his pick-and-roll quickness alongside Goran Dragic will be important, as will his ability to get from the shooting corner to the offensive glass. Plus, with Hassan Whiteside, Chris Andersen and even Amare Stoudemire (or Udonis Haslem), the Heat should have ample options to grind inside defensively.

Q: Hi, Ira. Last week you said that Goran Dragic and Chris Bosh would be indispensible, that the team will play around them. So what about Dwyane Wade? I am with Wade fans in China. He is so popular in China. We all love him. So we want to know where the role of Wade is headed. Ordinary play or MVP candidate? (In China, we look at your articles every day. We have a forum. We love your articles and they let me say hello to you.) -- Chen. -- Hangzhou China

A: First, thanks for reading. As for Dwyane, I believe this will be somewhat of a statement year for him. As ugly as his contract negotiations turned this offseason, this time he will be playing for something more than a one-year deal. Statistically, he had a stellar offensive season in 2014-15. The issue was staying on the court. I believe playing fulltime alongside Goran Dragic will help, as will greater depth in reserve, with Gerald Green and Justise Winslow added on the perimeter. A year ago, Dwyane was in the middle of your equation, between ordinary player and MVP candidate. If he can stay there, at his age, it would be a net gain for the Heat. Dwyane Wade was and still is expected to be a very, very good player.

Q: With the Heat's scoring punch off the bench on paper being the best it's been in many years, will that allow Dwyane Wade to play 6-, 7-minute stints per quarter on both ends of the floor? We all know about his knees but it also appears he deliberately paces himself for the long run thinking he'll play most or all of the fourth quarter. If Wade can offer real defense and play both ends this team can go the distance. Well, at least on paper -- Brian.

A: I don't think that's as much a factor of minutes as it is of the Heat needing so much more from him on offense in previous seasons. The question now is whether Dwyane is willing to sacrifice some of his statistics in order to expend greater energy on both ends. When Dwyane is zoned in, he remains a defensive factor. With so much more scoring on this roster, as you point out, that could allow him to turn more of his focus to the other end. Could. But it also has to be more that blocked shots and steals. With Hassan Whiteside there to clean up at the rim for a full season, it could make every Heat defender more efficient.