Miami Heat: 5 key questions to keep an eye on as free agency looms

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MIAMI, FL – MARCH 4: Ryan Anderson #31 of the Miami Heat warms up before the game against the Atlanta Hawks on March 4, 2019 at American Airlines Arena 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) /

What will be Ryan Anderson’s fate?

Ryan Anderson has perhaps the greatest of all the massive overpay contracts on the Miami Heat roster. With a $21.26 million salary next season, $15.6 of which is guaranteed, he played just 44 minutes in 10 games with the Heat after a mid-season trade from the Phoenix Suns. He played just 15 games for the Suns prior to the trade in 2018-19.

It’s possible the Heat will just eat the remaining season on Anderson’s contract and allow it to expire, or they may attach draft picks to dump him into another team’s cap space. One other possibility is that they may stretch his contract, which would take his guaranteed $15.6 million and divide it evenly over the next three seasons, reducing his cap hit from $21.26 million to just $5.2 million.

If the Heat can’t find a suitor who will do business with them, they may find themselves with very little choice other than to stretch and waive Anderson in an effort to avoid the luxury tax. The date to watch here is July 9th, when his contract becomes fully guaranteed for the full $21.26 million, and would cost them almost $2 million in each of the next three seasons if they were to stretch him after that date.

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