How Pat Riley Can Sign Kevin Durant, Hassan Whiteside, Dwyane Wade With Limited Cap Space

Pat Riley, president of the Miami Heat, wants Kevin Durant, besides re-signing Hassan Whiteside and Dwayne Wade. Is it possible with limited cap room?

Pat Riley has an ambitious plan this offseason. The Miami Heat president intends to sign Kevin Durant, besides re-signing Hassan Whiteside and franchise icon Dwayne Wade. How does he plan to do it? Let’s dive into the hypothetical scenario, shall we?

Riley is working with approximately $44 million in cap space.

To re-sign Wade, Riley can go over the cap since Miami Heat own the 2006 Finals MVP’s Bird rights. Let’s presume Wade re-signs with Heat for another one-year, $20 million contract (like last offseason).

To re-sign Whiteside, Riley will have to use cap space since he owns only the early Bird rights on the shot-blocking phenomenon. Heat can still sign Whiteside for more than the league average max salary but cannot offer a fifth year on the contract.

Miami can sign Whiteside to a max deal worth $98 million over four seasons. Other teams can offer $94 million over four years.

The first year of Whiteside’s salary would be $22 million. Let’s say Whiteside is on board.

This leaves Riley another $22 million to work with. The first year of Kevin Durant’s max salary would be approximately $27 million. The Heat need a few more million to work with.

Let’s presume they dump Josh McRoberts’ $5.7 million salary on the Portland Trail Blazers or the Utah Jazz. Per ESPN’s trade machine, the Blazers and Jazz have room to absorb the stretch 4.

The Heat now have close to $28 million to work with. Now, let’s presume that Heat have signed Kevin Durant to a two-year, $55 million contract (first-year salary $26 million).

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With roughly $2 million left, Riley can bring back

and

on veteran’s minimum contracts (using the room exception).

Riley would be forced to let forwards Luol Deng and Joe Johnson walk. That would be a significant blow but Durant is sure to fill the void left by the veteran wings.

And lastly, Riley can pick up the $870,000 team option on promising youngster Josh Richardson. Briante Weber is also signed through for another two seasons. However, Heat will be unable to bring back Tyler Johnson, who is expected to test free agency.

Rotation:
Hassan Whiteside ($22 million) / Amar’e Stoudemire ($1 million)
Chris Bosh ($23 million) / Udonis Haslem ($1 million)
Kevin Durant ($26 million) / Justise Winslow ($2.6 million)
Dwayne Wade ($20 million) / Briante Weber ($ 870,000)
Goran Dragic ($15 million) Josh Richardson ($ 870,000)

2015-16 Miami Heat Pay Roll: $123 million approx.
Trade Exception: $9 million approx. (can be used to acquire players via trade)

The Chris Bosh conundrum…

There is still a lot of uncertainty over the future of the power forward. Bosh last played a game for Miami on Feb. 9 against the San Antonio Spurs. If Bosh is unable to play next season, the Heat can claim medical hardship on the contract exactly a year after his last game.

According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, “If the doctor doesn’t believe Bosh can continue his career, the Heat can take the 11-time All-star’s contract off their books for salary cap purposes (in Feb, 2017).”

Bosh is owed nearly $76 million until 2019.

Miami can also use their $9 million trade exception to acquire a role player or two. Miami earned the trade exception by trading Chris Anderson, Mario Chalmers to Memphis Grizzlies and Brian Roberts to Portland Trail Blazers prior to February’s trade deadline.

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Pat Riley and the Heat have their work cut out starting Friday. Will ‘The Godfather’ assemble his next championship roster? A starting five of Whiteside-Bosh-Durant-Wade-Dragic is sure to pose a threat to the Cleveland Cavaliers.