Pat Riley and the Miami Heat did the right thing at the NBA trade deadline: get under the luxury tax and make no major moves that mortgage the future.
The NBA trade deadline has passed and the Miami Heat made three trades.
Related Story: NBA trade deadline round up
A couple of days before the deadline, the Heat traded fan-favorite Chris “Birdman” Anderson to the Memphis Grizzlies.
The 2017 pick is top-40 protected. In other words, the Heat keep the pick if they are one of the 10 worst teams in the NBA next year. It is unlikely the Heat keep this pick. The 2019 pick is via Boston and is protected top-55. This pick is not likely to convey. So, the Grizzlies essentially took Birdman’s contract for a mid-to-late second round draft pick.
On Thursday, the day of the deadline, the Heat traded Jarnell Stokes to the New Orleans Pelicans.
In exchange for Stokes and $700,000 in cash, the Heat received a highly protected 2018 second round draft pick from the New Orleans Pelicans. The Pelicans pick will likely never convey. Essentially, the Heat gave Stokes away.
Also on Thursday, the Heat traded Brian Roberts to the Portland Trail Blazers.
The Heat sent Roberts and their 2021 second round draft pick to the Trail Blazers for cash considerations. While the complete details of this trade are still emerging, it appears the 2021 pick is unprotected. Essentially, the Trail Blazers took on Roberts contract for a 2nd round pick.
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All in all, it cost the Heat two second round draft picks to save more than $20 million dollars. Prior to these trades, the Heat were approximately $5.6 million in salary over the luxury tax.
In addition to getting under the tax, the Heat have enough room to add a player without going back into the tax. In other words, if a quality veteran is bought out of his contract, the Heat can add him to the roster for the veteran’s minimum without incurring a luxury tax penalty. The Heat are undoubtedly hoping to add a player like Joe Johnson or Kevin Martin if either is bought out.
Heat will look at players bought out if no trade for help happens next 30 minutes. Can now stay under tax line even if sign player to min.
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) February 18, 2016
Finally, staying under the luxury tax means the Heat have the full mid-level exception available to sign free agents in the summer. If the Heat are interested in retaining Luol Deng beyond this year, the mid-level exception offers a possible route to do it.
By any measure, despite the loss of more draft picks, these were prudent moves by the Heat. It is clear that Riley understands the Heat are not contenders this year. So, instead of chasing a one-dimensional shooter or veteran in the last year of a contract, Riley made the wise decision to stand pat and invest in his youth. Justise Winslow, Tyler Johnson, Josh Richardson and Hassan Whiteside all remain in a Heat uniform.
Likewise, Riley set the Heat up for maximum opportunity during free agency. Riley understand that stars, supported by key role players, win championships. Having nearly $40 million in salary cap space and the mid-level exception allows Riley to pursue both stars and key role players this summer.
Grade for Heat trades (and, as importantly, lack of trades): A