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Miami Heat: 3 goals for Miami in this potential trade idea for Anthony Davis

By Rahmeaun Rahming

MIAMI, FL - NOVEMBER 30: Anthony Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans looks on prior to the game against the Miami Heat during the first half at American Airlines Arena on November 30, 2018 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - NOVEMBER 30: Anthony Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans looks on prior to the game against the Miami Heat during the first half at American Airlines Arena on November 30, 2018 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JANUARY 23: Anthony Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans looks on against the Detroit Pistons at Smoothie King Center on January 23, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JANUARY 23: Anthony Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans looks on against the Detroit Pistons at Smoothie King Center on January 23, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /

Goal 2: Get under the luxury tax threshold for this current 18-19 season. ($123.7 million)

Goal 3: Stay under the luxury tax threshold next year in the 19-20 season. (Projected $130.6 million)

Let’s say the miracle trade mentioned above somehow comes to pass; there’s still the second and third goal to reach.

The contracts in that deal save the Heat roughly $3.4 million over the luxury tax line of $123.7 million. The team would need to look for ways to offload salary without taking any in return. Long story short, even with the injury to Derrick Jones Jr., Wayne Ellington wouldn’t finish the season in South Beach. If president Pat Riley could convince a team like the Denver Nuggets to pick Ellington and his $6.2 million contract up off waivers, the second goal would be fulfilled with $3.3 million left over.

These moves are hypothetical, but even still I would not attempt to get under the tax line this season. Moves like that deplete the roster even further while also showing Davis that you value money over putting talent on the floor.

But to take this a step further let’s try to complete our third goal of getting under the tax line for next season as well. Tim Frazier’s contract would come off the books in the summer along with Wade, Haslem, creating a small amount of room for a deal with Rodney McGruder worth about $3 million if no other moves are made to create more room.

According to this season’s numbers, the luxury tax line is about 21.3% higher than the actual salary cap. I used that same formula to carve out that small amount of room for McGruder mentioned above.

Like I said earlier, I don’t have the Heat in Tier one for Davis. I don’t even have them in tier two since that’ll most likely be held by the Celtics this summer.

Next. 5 trade ideas for Mike Conley and/or Marc Gasol. dark

If training camp ends and no deal is done, that opens up the door for the next tier of teams like Miami, where the immediate title contention isn’t there, but they do have actual assets to offer that could make the Pelicans better in the post-Antony Davis era.

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