The Miami Heat finally got the Mario Chalmers trade they had been searching for since the summer. After re-signing Goran Dragic to a max deal, Chalmers was good as gone, but the Heat struggled to find a trade partner. However, the Memphis Grizzlies came calling and while the Heat got talent in Beno Udrih and Jarnell Stokes, do not expect them to stick around for much longer in South Beach.
According to Marc Stein of ESPN.com, the Heat traded Chalmers and James Ennis to acquire Udrih and Stokes in a deal, but the moving parts are expected to continue going elsewhere. Ira Winderman of the Miami Sun-Sentinel confirmed the report that the Heat will now attempt to shop both Udrih and Stokes in deals while potentially including Chris Andersen with the goal to lessen the luxury tax burden.
Winderman reports that the Heat are transitioning, working with youth to build a long-lasting championship team. That showed when players like Tyler Johnson and Justise Winslow began getting significant minutes. As a result, the Heat are looking for trade deals of veteran players after stockpiling bigs like Andersen, Amar'e Stoudemire and Udonis Haslem.
"It would take about a half an hour if you ever want to sit down in my office," team president Pat Riley said, via the Sun Sentinel. "We can talk about going back to all the moving parts with this team, and the transition from a championship team to where we are today. I think it's a good mix right now. We'll see how it plays out over the next 20 or 30 games."
The issue for the Heat is prepping the salary cap to handle the big contracts headed the team's way. Whiteside is likely to command a contract worth upwards of $20 million next offseason. Johnson could earn big money. Dwyane Wade will need a new deal. With the Heat not being exactly where they thought they would be, dumping players now to afford other options is going to become a priority.
Riley likes the flexibility the Heat have at the moment. The team has trade pieces they can look to deal or they can simply hold on to them for the moment and let the youth of the team begin to blossom. Riley noted the Heat are not yet a championship team, but they are headed in a better direction and will keep moving forward even if that means getting rid of other contracts on the pay roll.
"We know we have flexibility," Riley said. "I think that is part of all these moving parts in this transition, from a championship team, to try to get back to a championship team."
The Heat will remain active in trade talks. Andersen will be next up along with Udrih. Stoudemire could end up being thrown into the mix as well. Riley is not yet satisfied which means anything is possible.
