NBA Trade Deadline: Miami Heat Send Jarnell Stokes To New Orleans Pelicans
The Miami Heat were able to lower their luxury tax bill with a small trade with the New Orleans Pelicans, shipping Jarnell Stokes out of town.
With the NBA Trade Deadline less than two hours away, the Miami Heat had one goal in mind; lowering their salary tax bill. They were able to do that to a degree with the three-team deal that involved the Memphis Grizzlies and Charlotte Hornets, as they were able to ship Chris Andersen out of town.
That trade saved the Heat almost $5 million in luxury tax bills according to ESPN’s Marc Stein, as they brought back point guard Brian Roberts in the deal. Stein continued to say that the deal left the Heat just over $3.5 million over the luxury tax, while that number was well over $5.6 million prior to moving Andersen.
The Heat were able to continue slashing off the luxury tax dollars this afternoon, as they completed another trade with the New Orleans Pelicans. In this deal, the Heat will be sending power forward Jarnell Stokes to New Orleans, while the Heat will be receiving a highly protected second-round pick. Zach Lowe was first to report the trade.
This won't exaclty rev up the deadline, but the Heat have traded Jarnell Stokes. Details coming, likely just a small salary dump.
— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) February 18, 2016
Lowe predicted that the trade was just a salary dump for the Heat, and that is exactly what it was. Stokes was acquired from the Memphis Grizzlies earlier in the season along with Beno Udrih in the trade that sent Mario Chalmers and James Ennis to Memphis.
Despite all of the injuries that the Heat faced in the front court, Stokes was never able to crack the rotation, shuttling constantly between the Heat and their NBA D-League Affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce.
The Heat accomplished their goal of dropping their luxury tax bill, as Stein reports that the Heat kicked in $700,000 to sweeten the deal, but also saw their luxury tax number drop by another $2 million.
Miami kicks in $700,000-plus in cash to New Orleans for Pelicans to take in Jarnell Stokes and reduce Heat tax bill by a further $2 million
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) February 18, 2016
For the Pelicans, they get a young power forward for basically free. With how heavily protected the second-round pick is, there is a chance that the Heat never actually receive the pick from the Pelicans.
Next: NBA Trade Deadline Live Trade Tracker
Stokes could also have a role right away with the Pelicans, as they are reportedly shopping power forward Ryan Anderson aggressively. If he is moved, Stokes could find himself with his first real opportunity at playing time in the NBA.