The Miami Heat are shopping a Chris Andersen trade along with Mario Chalmers after trading Zoran Dragic to the Celtics and Shabazz Napier to the Orlando Magic and this comes as the team has more roster moves to make, as Henry Walker has been waived and that means players like Tyler Johnson, Josh Richardson and James Ennis are competing to stay on the roster with Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Hassan Whiteside and Goran Dragic.
Miami has been looking to shed salary in the hopes of lowering their luxury tax number and they have done that with trades of Dragic and Napier. According to the Miami Herald, the team is still shopping Chalmers in trades with teams along with Chris Andersen, as moving those players could free up over $10 million in tax hits moving forward. Miami traded Napier to the Magic and Dragic to the Celtics for basically nothing, as the team was looking to clear roster space and get financials in order.
According to Barry Jackson at the Miami Herald, the Heat have brought down their roster count to 14 and the team still has draft pick Josh Richardson to sign. Jonathan Goodman writes that the trades of Dragic and Napier give "opportunity" for both Tyler Johnson and Richardson to step up as backups for Goran Dragic on the roster. Richardson has not been signed yet, but he is expected to get a deal soon, while Johnson has been solid while healthy and Miami thinks that he can be a factor for the team this season.
Miami has waived Henry Walker after trading Dragic on Monday, as the Herald reports that he has been let go that the "door is open" for a return. Miami also has a decision to make with James Ennis, as he could be the player on the roster bubble for the team, according to Goodman. Miami made the deal with Dragic to help clear the roster spot and the team wanted to make the move so much, they are reportedly paying the salary of Dragic for this season. The Celtics could try and trade Dragic again, but reports have him getting waived.
The deals with Dragic and Napier can save Miami up to $10 million and possibly more in tax money, according to the Palm Beach Post. The team now is likely to continue shopping Chalmers and Andersen, as Miami can clear even more space and get the rosters set with those deals. Chalmers is on a $4.3 million deal and Andersen is making $5 million, but both are on expiring deals and that could get teams interested in making moves.
Goodman reports that the Heat will have Richardson in on a deal after taking him in the second round and that he will be the 15th players on the roster. Moves with Chalmers and/or Andersen could be coming and after signing Gerald Green and Amar'e Stoudemire, Pat Riley feels the team has better depth than last year. Miami is happy with Richardson and Johnson as backups for Dragic on the roster if they move Chalmers, who averaged 10 points and four assists per game in 80 games played last season.
Check here for more on the Miami heat offseason moves and the recent trades with Napier and Dragic and interest in Chalmers.
UPDATE: "Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat 1m1 minute ago: Have been told that Tyler Johnson will have his 50-percent contract guarantee picked up by Saturday deadline. Heat mulling Ennis."
