Mailbag: Trading Whiteside for McCollum is harder than it seems

If the Miami Heat wanted to trade for CJ McCollum, they would have to jump through a bunch of hoops. We dig into that and other possible trades in this week’s mailbag.

Q: Here’s a trade idea. CJ McCollum and Mason Plumlee for Hassan Whites- (M. Amb)

Woah, woah, woah. Let me stop you right there. Alright, I know I’ve brought up CJ McCollum as a possible trade target in the past, and have mentioned a swap of McCollum for Hassan Whiteside straight up.

After digging into the rules, I’ve found that it’s not so easy. McCollum is on a poison pill contract, meaning that trading McCollum this season would be extremely difficult.

Here’s CBA expert Larry Coon on what a poison pill contract is, and how it can be traded:

"… when a team extends a first round draft pick’s rookie scale contract and then trades the player between the date the extension is signed and the date it takes effect. When this happens, the player’s trade value for the receiving team is the average of the salaries in the last year of the rookie scale contract and each year of the extension. The sending team uses the player’s actual salary when calculating their total outgoing salary, and uses the current-year maximum salary in place of the (unknown) maximum salary for a future season, if necessary."

McCollum signed an extension that kicks in after this season, so even though his cap number for Portland is $3.2 million (his current salary), his outgoing cap hit would be $21.97 million (the average of his five years under contract).

CJ McCollum’s contract by year:

League rules dictate that salaries have to match for a trade to be accomplished, so we’re looking at a difference of $18.75 million. The Heat and Trail Blazers would have to find a third team to take on that money, without either team taking anything back.

As you can imagine, there aren’t many teams that can afford to do that. Really, there’s just one that can absorb that much money, and that’s the Denver Nuggets.

So, let’s say the Nuggets decided to help out the Heat and Trail Blazers. What would that look like?

Miami gets: CJ McCollum

Portland gets: Hassan Whiteside

Denver gets: Evan Turner and Mason Plumlee

But there’s one more hurdle. Denver currently has 15 players on the roster and would have to clear two spots to make room for Turner and Plumlee. Alonzo Gee’s spot will open up when his current 10-day contract expires, leaving one more spot needed to open. They could give away a player for a minimal return (say, a protected second-round pick). For instance, they could trade Jameer Nelson to the Cleveland Cavaliers, who could absorb Nelson with the trade exception they created by trading Mike Dunleavy.

Why would Denver help? Maybe they like Turner as an additional play maker, and view Plumlee as someone who could play alongside Nikola Jokic and want the rights to him when he becomes a restricted free agent. Portland could throw in a first round pick to sweeten the pot for Denver. (I’m stretching here. Denver needs the cap space to pay its current young crop of players, so acquiring Turner’s deal doesn’t jive with that priority.)

As you can see, there’s a ton of ifs, buts and maybes to make a straight Whiteside-for-McCollum swap work. In other words: Highly unlikely. At least for now.

You can listen to us answer the mailbag questions on Locked On Heat here:

Q: Here’s a two-parter. Part 1: If the Heat do end up trading Goran Dragic to the Orlando Magic what would be the best package the Heat could get back? If they don’t trade to the Magic who is most likely to make a deal for him? 

Part 2: If the Heat do trade Dragic and get a mid-first round pick in return, who do you think they will target; Or do you think that pick will be included in yet another trade? (Chris Leach)

There’s a deal sitting in the middle of the table and it’s up to either Pat Riley or Orlando’s GM Rob Hennigan to pick up the phone. Dragic for Nikola Vucevic and Elfrid Payton almost works too perfectly in the trade machine. Only one problem: That trade solves almost no problems for either team. The Magic under Frank Vogel like to play slow. Dragic does not and isn’t very good when he does. But let’s assume for a moment the Magic are desperate (doesn’t take a big stretch of the imagination) and call Riley. Riley will laugh and hang up. Payton is a downgrade with limited upside, and Vucevic, a center, plays a position of strength for Miami. No thanks. Outside of Aaron Gordon I don’t love any of Orlando’s young players, and it’s not worth trading Dragic within the division and risking four Fiery Dragon Revenge games a season. Pass.

Other than the Magic, I look at the Nuggets, Kings, Bulls, Knicks and 76ers as potential trade partners.

Getting another first round pick for Dragic, either in 2017 or in future drafts, should be the price. Riley is probably looking for multiple picks, or a pick and young player, right now in return. Is that a steep price for a 30-year-old point guard? Sure. But there just aren’t many quality point guards available, and that could help drive up the price for the Heat. It’s a seller’s market.

As for what the Heat would do with such a pick, they’ll take the best player available. That, or use the pick in a trade for a star player. If it comes to trading Dragic, Riley will be in the asset collection business.

Q: When Josh Richardson or Josh McRoberts return, does it make more sense to cut ties with either Derrick William or another player instead of Okaro White? The Heat could cut any player they wish. (Big Pat)

First off, we’re talking about the Hardship Exception Miami used to sign a forward from the D-League. If you don’t know what’s happening here, read this.

Alright, on to the question.

Nah.

Okaro White will sign to a minimum contract that will come with little-to-no penalties once the Heat release him. Derrick Williams is under contract for $4.9 million this season, which is fully guaranteed. Micky Arison won’t sign off on paying a player nearly $5 million to not be on the team.

Same goes for anyone else on the roster (big but coming) BUT keep in mind that the Heat will likely have another roster spot open up when they release Chris Bosh after March 1. White is auditioning for that spot.

A case for the Heat to keep Goran Dragic

The Miami Heat don't have to rush to trade Goran Dragic, because they are bad enough already to land a top pick in the upcoming NBA Draft.

Q: First I have to say I’m a new listener to your podcast and I must say I’m a fan! You two do an outstanding job..

Hey, thanks!

To my question, I know you (Wes… and maybe David) are big fans of Markelle Fultz and, to a lesser extent, Lonzo Ball. Both have been ranked as either No. 1 or No. 2 in the draft and both are point guards. So the question is,

Finally, I was wondering when we were going to get to it. I just hope it’s not another question about Dragic.

… Do you think it would be wise for the Heat to trade Dragic since they’ll probably draft a point guard, or would it make more sense to keep Dragic and kind of have him mentor the incoming rookie? (Robert Smith)

Dammit, Robert! I thought we had something special.

Okay, I’ll give you this: That’s a fine question. As long as it doesn’t get me on the trade machine for another hour and a half, I can handle these types of trade questions.

Here’s the thing with all the Dragic trade talk: It comes under the assumption that the Heat have to trade Dragic to tank. News flash! The Heat already suck with Dragic. Miami can keep Dragic and end up with a top-two pick. It’s the best of both sucky worlds!

There’s been reports that the Heat are seeking too much in a trade for Dragic, and that’s because Riley is in the driver’s seat. Unless someone offers him a deal he can’t refuse, Riley won’t trade him. There is value in keeping Dragic (and Whiteside, while we’re at it) and seeing if the Heat can lure a top free agent to play with them this summer. If not, then Dragic can mentor Fultz or Ball (both can play off the ball, as can Dragic) until Riley finds the deal he’s looking for.