The Miami Heat have been shopping a Mario Chalmers trade this offseason with Chris Andersen and the team could push trades after signing Josh Richardson to a contract, as the draft pick is expected to back up Goran Dragic along with Tyler Johnson and now the team will try and continue finishing off the roster for training camp after trading Zoran Dragic and Shabazz Napier.
Miami has been trying to clear salary cap space and luxury tax money this offseason and that is why Dragic and Napier were traded. According to the Miami Herald, the team is still pushing to trade Andersen and/or Chalmers, as that could help the team cut millions off the tax. Chalmers has been solid in a backup role with the Heat and Andersen is a good rebounder and rim protector, but both players are a little pricey at $5 million and $4.3 million for this season.
Andersen and Chalmers are on expiring deals and that could make them more likely to get moved at some point this year. The Heat are looking to bring down their tax number and they also have roster moves to make, as the Miami Herald reports that the team has the limit of 15 players on the roster and they have decisions to make about Tyler Johnson and James Ennis. Johnson is on a partially guaranteed deal and James Ennis is on an unguaranteed deal and that makes those players targets to be waived and this comes as Chalmers and Andersen are being pushed in trades.
The Heat had been holding a roster spot for Richardson and now Shams Charania of RealGM reports that the team has signed Richardson to a three-year, $2.5 million contract. Miami took Richardson in the second round of the draft and sources report that the deal is fully guaranteed in the first season and will be partially guaranteed for the second year of the deal. The team felt getting Richardson on a deal was important and he can help give depth behind Dragic, especially if Chalmers is moved.
Richardson is slotted in as a shooting guard, but he can also play the point and he comes in after averaging 11.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.6 assists per game in the summer league. The team likes Johnson and he could be an option to stay if Chalmers is traded. Dragic was traded to the Celtics and Napier was traded to the Magic and that took away two depth options for the Heat at point guard.
James Ennis also could be an option to make the roster, as the team has pushed back the deadline to give Ennis a guaranteed contract. Miami has depth with Luol Deng and Justise Winslow, but they let go of Henry Walker already and now they have a decision to make about Ennis. According to Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel, the team now has until August 1 to guarantee the contract for Ennis and the team also has a decision to make on Johnson. The Heat will continue pushing trades before the final decisions are made.
