The unofficial start of NBA trade season begins later this month when players who signed contracts this past summer become trade-eligible.
On Dec. 15, most contracts signed in the offseason become tradeable. Some others don’t become tradeable until January. As trade winds start to pick up and you begin plugging fake trade ideas into the trade machine, here’s a look at when Miami Heat players on new contracts can be dealt.
The following Heat players cannot be traded until Dec. 15
Josh Richardson: Signed a two-year, $5.9 million contract over the summer with a player option in the second year. He has a base salary of $2.9 million this season that can be counted toward a trade. Richardson is averaging 10.5 points and 3.1 assists in 27.6 minutes per game while shooting 46.2% overall and 29.6% from 3-point range.
Thomas Bryant: Signed a two-year, $5.4 million contract with a player option in the second year. He has a base salary of $2.7 million that can be used in a trade. Bryant has appeared in 13 games for the Heat and is averaging 5.1 points and 3.8 rebounds in 12.9 minutes, but has recently lost his place in the rotation.
Orlando Robinson: Signed a two-year, $3.9 million contract that becomes fully guaranteed on Jan. 10. The second year is non-guaranteed. Robinson’s base salary for this season is $1.8 million. He is averaging 7.2 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists in 16 minutes per game and recently started at center in place of the injured Bam Adebayo.
The following Heat players cannot be traded until January
Kevin Love (Jan. 15): Signed a two-year, $7.9 million contract with a player option in the second year. He is making $3.8 million this season and cannot be traded until Jan. 15. Love is averaging 7.9 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists while shooting 33.3% on 4.3 3-point attempts per game.
Dru Smith (Jan. 21): Signed a two-year, $3.9 million contract that became fully guaranteed once he was ruled out for the season with an ACL sprain. He becomes trade-eligible on Jan. 21 and his contract for next season is non-guaranteed. Smith averaged 4.3 points and 1.6 assists in nine appearances before his injury in Cleveland on Nov. 22.