The chances the Miami Heat get a trade for Chris Andersen or Mario Chalmers are getting slimmer by the day. The Heat are desperate for some luxury tax relief heading into the new season and these two players carry the biggest pay roll hits for what their production on the court comes to. As a result, the Heat are basically trying to give the players away and it simply is not working.
According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, the Heat are desperate to make this trade and yet not a single team is biting thanks to the contracts assigned to Andersen and Chalmers. Andersen is set to make $5 million this upcoming season. The Heat loaded up on size this offseason bringing in players Josh McRoberts and Amar'e Stoudemire. Andersen is expendable. Chalmers has a $4.3 million pay day this year and with Goran Dragic re-signed he could be on his way out.
The issue is that both players are reserves and teams are not willing to take on that type of money for someone likely playing a maximum of 8 minutes per night. The New York Knicks were listed as a potential option for a trade of Andersen as they needed size to back up players like Robin Lopez and Kristaps Porzingis. However, according to ESPN's Ian Begley, the Knicks just signed Kevin Seraphin to a contract ending that idea.
The Los Angeles Lakers could be a potential option. They eyed the return of Carlos Boozer, but again no team wants the contract. According to Bleacher Report, there could be some options once Boozer and Glen Davis are taken off the market. The Clippers are still looking for size as they discuss a potential deal with Davis. If they can get rid of Jamal Crawford, the Heat could offer Andersen instead. The Indiana Pacers could also be a potential option after they lost both David West and Roy Hibbert. In need of some more power, Andersen would be a solid option off the bench. The Dallas Mavericks might be the only other landing spot.
Chalmers is in the same position as he comes off his worst season to date. Teams like the Mavericks, Knicks and Clippers could use depth at the point guard spot, but giving up anything for Chalmers is not ideal. Instead these teams are eying players like Norris Cole who is a restricted free agent. If the Heat are willing to accept little in return for either Chalmers or Andersen, they could finally get some interest before the season starts.
