ASK IRA: Could lockout aid Heat in free agency?

Q: Suppose the labor dispute doesn’t settle until December or January (which I think is likely). Similar to the NFL situation, teams would have a week or so to sign and trade players.  Does that level of urgency benefit the Heat’s chances of landing quality free agents? Players would have less time to “mull” offers and negotiate, so it seems like they’d have to react to offers much quicker, therefore following winners’ instincts to sign with top teams like the Heat, even if for less money.  What do you think? — Mario. A: It’s what happened when the Heat landed Terry Porter after the 1998 lockout and something I’ve already said could happen again, perhaps with the likes of a Grant Hill. Older players playing on a year-to-year basis would be more likely to go for the instant-gratification option considering the money would be short for all players in a shortened season. Q: Shane Battier reminds me of James Posey and I would love to...