Q: Hey Ira, Erik Spoelstra just mentioned that he doesn't plan on using restrictions on Dwyane Wade and that he knows he has to be the leader of team. Is D-Wade going to be the focal point of the offense or will Spoelstra allow the offense run through Goran Dragic. He (Goran Dragic) is a pure point guard after all -- Trevor.

A: It will be unique to actually see a point guard advancing the ball, since until the arrival of Dragic, it mostly had been Dwyane Wade or LeBron James handling that assignment. If the Heat do, indeed, run, then Dragic has to be the engine of that offense. But if there is more of a halfcourt approach, then Wade could again advance the ball, before setting up Dragic and Chris Bosh to run their pick-and-roll game. In a perfect world, there would be no singular focus, so the Heat can maximize the possibilities of this roster. But this is the NBA, where a go-to player almost always emerges.

Q: The way I see it, as it stands right now, if Pat Riley and the front office truly believe this is a contender, they'd keep Mario Chalmers because he is the best backcourt option behind Goran Dragic and Dwyane Wade on this roster. If they're not sold on this roster and th­inking maybe a signing this summer will solidify contention, then and only then, do they move him. Do you think it's that simple? -- Ciara. Miami.

A: I don't think anything is simple when it comes to the luxury tax. First, the tax is not just a one-year concern. Once you enter the "repeater" tax, the cycle could keep you in it for years, and limit your other potential moves. Beyond that, the tax solely is about money, so it comes down to whether you want to compromise your current roster and your immediate chances at victory. I agree that, at the moment, Mario Chalmers is the third-best guard on the roster (especially if you consider Justise Winslow and Gerald Green to primarily be small forwards). But I also believe this roster is quite fluid. If either Josh Richardson or Tyler Johnson, or both, prove they are up to immediate minutes, it could change the equation with Chalmers. The fast-tracking of Winslow could impact that situation, as well, since it could allow Dwyane Wade to shift to point guard when Goran Dragic goes out. At the moment, I'm not sure the Heat can afford to be without Chalmers. But it's also not yet even October. So there is plenty of time for Spoelstra to consider all of his options.

Q: This time last year we were talking about how Chris Bosh needs to step up and be the leader of this team especially with that big contract. What do we expect now? Should we have the same expectations? Or just be happy whatever he gives us because he went through a traumatic experience last season? -- Conrad, West Palm Beach.

A: Based on everything Chris said at his Thursday news conference, there should be no reason not to expect him to return to his former self. If that's the case, he has to be good, very good, because of the investment the Heat made in the wake of LeBron James' departure. The Heat has set him up with the perfect pick-and-roll point guard in Goran Dragic. In many ways, he has never been better positioned for offensive success during his Heat tenure. The untold story is how much the Heat will continue to need Bosh for his defensive contributions. Even with Hassan Whiteside's emergence, Chris has to quarterback the back line of the defense.