Q: Ira, I remember we used the Duncan Robinson trade exception to take in Bobby Portis Jr. Are there any plans to use the Haywood Highsmith trade exception before that expires? Dan.A: For those unaware, the Heat hold a $5.6 million trade exception from last summers salary dump of Haywood Highsmith to the Nets, an exception that expires on Aug. 17. The reality is that because the Heat are hard-capped by virtue of the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, they have more exception money at the moment than they can use, now just about $10 million below that hard cap. In addition to the Highsmith trade exception, the Heat have almost $9 million remaining from their mid-level exception and the $5.5 million bi-annual exception. Plus, they can sign players to the veteran minimum without regard to exception money. Worth noting, however, is that exceptions cannot be aggregated. The Heat have multiple means to spend, just not much in total to spend.Related Articles Submit your Ask Ira question here! Q: Ira, there is all kinds of stuff all over the internet concerning a three-way trade involving Nikola Jovic, Klay Thompson and a third player. I know I shouldnt believe the internet, but if something like that did happen, would the Heat still be able to add DeMar DeRozan or someone similar? Rich, Plantation.A: Yes. In fact, currently at 12 players under standard contract, the Heat, by NBA rule, have to add at least two more players under standard contract (they can, in fact, add three, with the regular-season roster limit of 15 players under standard deals).Q: Ira, I understand your point on Klay Thompson as the best fit for the Heat, but do a bit disagree. You said that the Heat need him because teams will respect him to open things up for others. That may be true. But what about the lack of respect for Andrew Wiggins, Simone Fontecchio, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Davion Mitchell, who now shoot 3s as well or better than Thompson? With lack of respect, they should get uncontested 3s. Joel.A: Which is all well and good if you want Andrew, Simone, Tim and Davion to take the majority of the shots. But the goal is to ease the game and reduce the double- (and triple-) teams on Giannis Atenkounmpo and even Bam Adebayo. Thats where spacing enters the equations. Opponents would love nothing more than to see the Heat offense run through Wiggins, Fontecchio, Hardaway and Mitchell.