The Miami Heat have signed back Dwyane Wade and Goran Dragic this offseason and moving forward the team could look at a trade with Mario Chalmers, Chris Andersen or Josh McRoberts after adding Amar'e Stoudemire and Gerald Green and this comes as Justise Winslow has been strong in the summer league along with Tyler Johnson and Shabazz Napier.
The Heat have reportedly shopped both Mario Chalmers and Chris Andersen this offseason and moving one of those players is likely after the moves Miami has made this offseason. Miami would like to have the depth that Chalmers and Anderson give, but their salaries are fairly significant and after adding Amar'e Stoudemire and Gerald Green, those players could see less time on the court. According to Ramona Shelburne and Brian Windhorst of ESPN, Miami has pushed trades for both players this offseason to clear salary cap space for the season.
Zach Lowe at Grantland reported that the team also put out "feelers" for Shabazz Napier, but no deal is close at this time. The team added back Goran Dragic on a near max deal and he will be the starter at point guard with Chalmers and Napier as the main backups. If Miami moves Chalmers, Napier, Tyler Johnson and Josh Richardson could get time as a backup for Dragic. Chalmers is making $4.3 million and Andersen is $5 million on the cap and moving those players could help get the tax down for Miami.
Moving forward Miami wants to keep the cap down, at the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports that Hassan Whiteside will likely be getting re-signed. Whiteside had a breakout season last year and is expected to return once his contract is up, while Miami also wants to chase bigger free agents like Kevin Durant and Joakim Noah next summer. Amar'e Stoudemire was signed with Gerald Green in free agency and both players help Miami with bench depth. Green also can help Miami limit the minutes for Dwyane Wade.
Justise Winslow has been impressive in the Summer League and he could get significant minutes this season. The Summer League also have given the team some flexibility if they trade Chalmers, as the Palm Beach Post reports that Josh Richardson has been impressive and has shown "NBA caliber talent" with his play. Ira Winderman at the South Florida Sun Sentinel writes that Napier has proven himself in the summer and could take over as the main backup for Dragic after averaging 17 points in four games. Winderman wrote that Tyler Johnson could be a threat when healthy and that Richardson could be an option.
The Palm Beach Post writes that the team doesn't have roster space for Richardson at the moment, so he could end up playing internationally after being drafted in the second round. Napier is on a guaranteed deal and Johnson has not been fully healthy this summer, but could get a look in camp. Chalmers could be bait at the trade deadline if the Heat don't trade him during the offseason. Chris Bosh is recovering from his blood clot issues last season and he could have a solid backup with Winslow, who has impressed in the Summer League for Miami.
Check here for more on Chalmers, Andersen and Napier, the health of Chris Bosh, more on the Winslow and Heat Summer League and potential point guard options for this season.
