The Miami Heat may trade Mario Chalmers or Chris Andersen before the season starts and the team is continuing to make roster moves for camp, signing Keith Benson to a deal and this comes as Gerald Green, Amar'e Stoudemire and Justise Winslow have joined the roster with Hassan Whiteside, Goran Dragic, Dwyane Wade, Tyler Johnson, Josh McRoberts, Chris Bosh and Luol Deng this offseason.
Miami has already traded Shabazz Napier and Zoran Dragic to help lower the tax bill moving forward and the team could make more moves heading into camp. NBA teams are only permitted to have 15 players under contract for the season and the team can have 20 players during the offseason, but must cut down before the regular schedule starts. According to Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel, the Heat have signed Keith Benson to a deal as their 16th player and he could be headed for the D-League, while James Ennis' deal is non-guaranteed.
Ennis allowed the team to push a decision on him making the roster back until the start of the season and he could be in line for the final spot. Benson likely will not be on the roster during the season, but if he plays well the team could consider it, as they are trying to trade Chris Andersen and would have another spot open if that happens. Last season the team stashed Tyler Johnson in the D-League and he is now on the roaster and is expected to contribute as a backup for Dragic this season.
Chalmers has been mentioned in trade rumors all offseason and reports have the Heat willing to deal Chalmers along with Andersen. The team is continuing to try and lower their luxury tax this season, as Miami has to sign Whiteside back next summer and also wants to chase free agents. Chalmers and Andersen are both on expiring deals and that could make them more attractive to teams since they will not be long term investments. Miami clearly is ready for Dragic to start and the team is comfortable with Johnson as his main backup if Chalmers is traded.
Chalmers spoke with Winderman of the Sun Sentinel last week about the trade talk and he said that he has "not spoken to anybody" about a deal and that he will "see what happens." Chalmers said he is trying to take it in stride and that trade talk has come up before and that he "doesn't worry" about the rumors when he is preparing for the season. Chalmers has experience playing for a championship team and a team out there in need of a backup PG could look at him as an option.
Winderman reported the news about Benson and while he may not end up making the roster, the team is still interested in moving Andersen. Winderman writes that Andersen is "believed to be on the trading block" and they feel comfortable with players like Chris Bosh, Josh McRoberts, Amar'e Stoudemire, Whiteside and Udonis Haslem at forward and center on the roster. Benson had solid numbers in the summer league, putting up 12.8 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.4 blocked shots in five games.
