Miami Heat Rumors: Josh McRoberts Sticking Around
According to the latest Miami Heat rumors, Josh McRoberts may now be in the organization’s plans for the 2016-17 season.
Miami Heat rumors have been relatively quiet recently, but there are still moves that need to be made. The Heat currently have 19 players on the roster, four over the maximum of 15 for the regular season.
There has been much discussion about which players could be on their way out, with one being Josh McRoberts. The veteran power forward signed a multi-year deal with the Heat on July 14, 2014. It was a three-year deal with a fourth-year player option.
McRoberts looked to be a solid complementary piece for the Heat to put alongside LeBron James, but James returned home to Cleveland. That was just the beginning of things not going according to plan for McRoberts and the Heat.
McRoberts has suffered through two injured-riddled seasons in Miami. He played in only 17 games during the 2014-15 season and followed it up with 42 this past season. In his Heat tenure, McRoberts is averaging 3.8 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game.
Live Feed
Sir Charles In Charge
That is not the production the Heat were hoping to get from McRoberts, so they decided to look into moving him — and with good reason.
The production was one reason for wanting to move him, but the Heat were also looking to shed salary. Miami was able to work some magic last season to avoid the luxury tax, and McRoberts was a part of plenty of those discussions. This offseason, they also needed the extra money to be players in the free agency market.
The Heat did not hide their intentions of going big game hunting this summer. They landed an interview with the crown jewel of the class, Kevin Durant, and re-signed Hassan Whiteside. Those negotiations rubbed Dwyane Wade the wrong way, and he eventually signed with his hometown Chicago Bulls.
With Wade leaving town and Durant turning them down, the Heat were left with some money to spend. As a result, they matched the offer sheet for Tyler Johnson from the Brooklyn Nets and dove into the free agent market.
The Heat would end up signing 11 players total this summer, may of whom will be competing for minutes in the frontcourt. Udonis Haslem was re-signed with Derrick Williams, James Johnson and Willie Reed being added as free agents. Luke Babbit was also acquired in a trade with the New Orleans Pelicans, and Chris Bosh is attempting to return from his blood clots scare.
With all of the added talent, there’s a logjam in the frontcourt for minutes. Moving McRoberts would have alleviated some of those problems and it would’ve been a logical course of action for the Heat.
Related Story: 5 Bold Predictions For Miami Heat In 2016-17
But that doesn’t seem to be the route that they will be taking. According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, McRoberts has been informed he will be a part of the Heat for the upcoming season.
McRoberts’ agents, Mike Conley and Bill Duffy, also added that the Heat called to go over McRoberts’ offseason training so that both parties were on the same page.
This would be a mild surprise for some people, as McRoberts has given the Heat very little since he signed with them as a free agent. With all the signings they made this summer, it would make sense if they moved on from him.
The Heat also have some promising, young players that could be on the bubble such as Briante Weber. Keeping Weber, who has a partially guaranteed deal, would make sense as the third point guard because of the defensive mentality that he brings to the table.
McRoberts, on the other hand, could be buried on the depth chart, especially if he suffers another injury.
Next: Miami Heat 2016 Offseason Grades
The Heat could just be doing their due dilligence with a player that is still on their roster. But it sounds like McRoberts will be held onto for the time being despite the influx of talent to the Heat’s frontcourt this summer.