Miami Heat Agree To Buyout With Beno Udrih
The Miami Heat were able to get back under the luxury tax line by agreeing to a buyout with injured point guard Beno Udrih, something that does not sit well with some other teams.
The Miami Heat did an excellent job at the trade deadline, accomplishing their goal of clearing salary to get under the luxury tax line. The Heat made three moves in the last 72 hours trades were allowed, going from about $25 million in luxury tax bills to getting money from the teams paying taxes.
But, with the injuries beginning to mount, the Heat dipped into the free agent market to sign Joe Johnson after he was waived by the Brooklyn Nets. With Beno Udrih being out for the season with surgery on his foot, and Tyler Johnson already sidelined with a shoulder injury that required surgery in early February, a move needed to be made.
But, by signing Joe Johnson, the Heat were once again are flirting with the tax line. The Heat were $218,000 below the tax line before signing Johnson, so bringing him on board would push them into tax territory again. With the trade deadline passed, the Heat didn’t have many options to fix their tax problem. But, there was one way and that would be agreeing to a buyout with a player.
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According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, that is exactly what the Heat have accomplished, agreeing to a buyout with the injured Udrih. It is a move that Windhorst goes on to say has some teams up in arms. Udrih underwent surgery last week and is expected to miss at least 12 weeks, essentially ending his season.
That makes it extremely unlikely that Udrih will be signed to make up for the difference in money that he left on the table to leave the Heat.
It sounds like some sour grapes, as the other teams in the NBA are miffed that the Heat not only landed the best player on the waiver market in Johnson, but now will be taking home a share of the payout from the tax-paying teams, which Windhorst reports is going to be $2.6 million.
It may also allow the Heat to get back in the market for another player without going back over the luxury tax line; they just have to wait until March 6 to make the signing.
There were rumors that the Heat were interested in signing veteran wing player Marcus Thornton, who was waived by the Rockets last week. They have had discussions with the shooting guard, and are one of many potential suitors for his services.
The Heat could also look into acquiring another point guard, as Goran Dragic is the only one they currently have; rookie shooting guard Josh Richardson has been filling the role since Udrih went down.
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Udrih averaged 4.4 points and 2.5 assists per game as the backup to Dragic. He is in the final season of a two-year, $4.2 million contract. If a buyout is agreed upon, the Heat could look to sign Udrih back next offseason as a free agent.