IN THE LANE

LEGACY MOMENT:

Bob Bass, the former coach and executive who passed away a week ago at 89, counted coaching the Miami Beach-based Floridians of the ABA among his basketball stops. But some of his best work came as general manager of the Charlotte Hornets. It was there that he was named NBA Executive of the Year for a second time in 1997. It also was there that he orchestrated the trade of Alonzo Mourning to the Heat in 1995, shortly after Pat Riley’s arrival as coach and team president. Often overlooked with that deal is that Mourning, who was facing impending free agency, initially balked at the trade because he thought the Heat would be giving up too much, leaving him to play with a depleted roster. As the Charlotte Observer pointed out this past week, Bass then threatened to deal Mourning to a less desirable location. Mourning, who relented, eventually would cement a Hall of Fame career with the Heat. As for the Hornets, they wound up with Glen Rice, Matt Geiger, Khalid Reeves and a future first-round pick in the deal.

HONOR GUARD:

Former Heat guard Ray Allen has selected former Indiana Pacers guard Reggie Miller to present him for his Sept. 7 enshrinement into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Miller, whose career 3-point record was broken by Allen, was enshrined in 2012, with presenters required to be members of the Hall. A pair of former Heat players will serve as presenters, with Mourning (Springfield Class of 2014) as one of four presenters for Grant Hill and Gary Payton (Class of ’13) the sole presenter for Jason Kidd. Former Heat executive Billy Cunningham (Class of ’86) will help present Maurice Cheeks. WHAT GOES AROUND: Count New York Knicks forward Tim Hardaway Jr. among those appreciative of former Heat assistant David Fizdale taking over as coach. “He does bring that type of vibe and character around the team that makes you want to go out there and compete each and every day for him. That’s what we love about him,” Hardaway told the New York Post. There is, of course, a history there, with Fizdale having worked in the Heat video department in 1997-98 when Tim Hardaway was the team’s point guard. “I’ve known him since I was a kid,” the younger Hardaway said. “When he was with the Miami Heat, my dad played there. Just the culture he’s going to bring to the team and his charisma and passion for the game, it’s going to rub off on us very well.”

GROWTH SPURT:

Count former West Palm Beach Cardinal Newman standout and 2017 second-team All-Rookie selection John Collins among big men who have caught (or hope to catch) the 3-point bug. As he prepares for his second season, Collins told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution he hopes to step it up from outside. After going 0 for 1 on 3-pointers in his two seasons at Wake Forest, Collins shot 16 of 47 as an Atlanta rookie. “I think it’s paying off,” he said of his offseason work. “I’m going to have confidence shooting my shot.” Already, Collins appears to be a franchise priority. “A player like John Collins is not going to stay with a team if it’s a second-tier franchise,” owner Tony Ressler told the Journal-Constitution.