The Miami Heat have been shopping Mario Chalmers, Chris Andersen and Shabazz Napier on the trade market this offseason and the Los Angeles Clippers could be a potential target if they trade Jamal Crawford and this comes as the Heat are planning to clear some cap space to go after Kevin Durant as a free agent in 2016 to join Dwyane Wade and Goran Dragic in South Beach.
The Heat brought in Gerald Green and Amar'e Stoudemire on free agent contracts this offseason and according to the Palm Beach Post, the team "must pare down the roster. Jason Lieser reports that the Heat have 18 players on the roster and 15 spots for players, meaning trades could be on the horizon along with some tough cuts. The team has depth at a number of positions and after adding Stoudemire and Green, there is a chance that someone like Napier, Chalmers or Anderson could be moved.
Miami is looking to get its tax bill down heading into next summer, as CBS Sports and ESPN report that the team is likely to chase Kevin Durant in free agency. Lieser writes that the team can save millions in tax money moving forward by getting rid of Chalmers and/or Andersen, who are making a combined $9.3 million this season. Both players are in the final years of their deals and that makes them slightly more attractive to teams. Grantland reporter Zach Lowe wrote last month that the team also put out "feelers" about Shabazz Napier and his trade interest.
The Post reported that Pat Riley said that the moves are "about business" and that means players like Andersen and Chalmers are likely gone at some point. Andersen could get a chance to stay with Udonis Haslem and Josh McRoberts both having dealt with injuries, but Chalmers is likely getting moved. Miami brought back Dragic on a contract and the team also is looking to keep second round pick Josh Robinson and possibly Tyler Johnson.
Miami wants to save some cap space moving forward to help chase Durant, but the team also has Hassan Whiteside hitting the market and they likely will want to re-sign him. McRoberts could be an option to get moved once he is healthy, as he is signed to a deal with over $10 million coming the next two years and he also has a player option. McRoberts is coming off of surgery so he may need some time to get back into the swing of things and if he stays he can help with depth up front with Chris Bosh.
Miami reportedly was interested in a Jamal Crawford trade earlier in the offseason, but talk on that has subsided. The team could try and make a deal with Chalmers/Andersen for Crawford, as the Clippers have a lot of depth with Paul Pierce, Josh Smith, Wes Johnson and Pablo Prigioni signed. The Post reports that Miami has some roster moves to consider, as they have James Ennis and Henry Walker on non-guaranteed contracts along with Johnson. Zoran Dragic has a guaranteed deal and Haslem does as well, meaning the team is going to have make cuts elsewhere with Green and Stoudemire coming in.
