The Miami Heat have been active this offseason in free agency, signing Amar'e Stoudemire, Gerald Green, Dwyane Wade and Goran Dragic to contracts and moving forward a trade for Jamal Crawford could be an option, as the team has to cut down the roster and that could put players like Mario Chalmers, Shabazz Napier, Josh McRoberts and Chris Andersen on the trade block.
The Heat brought in Wade on a one-year deal and Dragic on a near max deal and now the team has to make some decisions to get the roster down to the right size. According to the Miami Herald, Joseph Goodman reports that the team is looking to "trim" the roster and "save money" moving forward and the current makeup of the roster means "two must go." Goodman reports that the roster currently puts the team in penalties of around $30 million for the NBA tax.
Pat Riley likely will make some moves to help that and the Miami Herald reports that players like Mario Chalmers, Chris Andersen, Shabazz Napier and Josh McRoberts are among the players most likely to go. The team has reportedly put some of those players on the trade block, with Chalmers and Andersen both potential options to move. Zach Lowe at Grantland reported last week that the team has also "put out feelers" on Shabazz Napier to see if there is any interest on the market.
Check here for more Miami Heat news, for more on the deals with Amar'e Stoudemire and Gerald Green, the contracts for Dwyane Wade and Goran Dragic and for more on the potential trades with Napier, Chalmers, Andersen and McRoberts and for Miami interest in Jamal Crawford.
The team has signed Amar'e Stoudemire and Gerald Green to one year deals and Goodman writes that the Heat likely have to make roster moves to help complete the roster. The team can carry 20 into training camp and they currently have 17 spots taken up and the moves are likely going to be tied to money and cutting down on the luxury tax. Chalmers and Andersen are both on expiring contracts and that could make them attractive pieces to move. Chalmers is making over $4 million and Andersen counts as $5 million and that could make them the likely candidates to go.
According to Marc Stein at ESPN, the Cavaliers and the Miami Heat are interested in trading for Jamal Crawford this offseason. The Heat could look at Crawford as an option if they move Chalmers and/or Andersen, as his salary is just north of $5 million and he is also on an expiring deal. Miami wants some more wing scoring and Crawford could help give Wade rest for stretches, as he needs to have his minutes managed as he gets older. Last season Crawford was solid for the Clippers, averaging just under 16 points while playing 26 minutes per game.
The Heat have been filling out the end of the roster and that is why some moves are likely as the team heads out of the Summer League at the end of the month. Stoudemire has signed a deal, with USA today reporting that it is a one-year contract for the minimum. Stoudemire was productive while healthy last season, averaging over 10 points per game while playing with the Knicks and the Dallas Mavericks. Miami also signed Gerald Green to a one year deal and he is another offensive option off the bench.
