Miami Heat: Grading The Brian Roberts Trade
The Miami Heat completed their second trade of the day, moving Brian Roberts to the Portland Trail Blazers. What grade did they receive for this move?
There have not been any big trades during the NBA Trade Deadline this season, but some teams were more active than others. One of the most active teams at the deadline is the Miami Heat.
The Heat’s goal was clear heading into the deadline, as they wanted to cut their tax bill by as much as they possibly could. It began with a three-team trade that netted them Brian Roberts from the Charlotte Hornets, which resulted in Chris Andersen being sent out of town. That deal, according to ESPN’s Marc Stein, saved the Heat about $4.5 million on their luxury tax bill.
That was only the start for the Heat, as they continued slashing their luxury tax bill earlier this afternoon with another trade. Once again they were able to ship out a seldom used big man from the end of their bench, this time in Jarnell Stokes, to the New Orleans Pelicans. The Heat received a heavily-protected second round pick, which they don’t care about; the important thing was that they shed salary again.
Even by throwing in some money to entice the Pelicans to take on Stokes, the Heat still cut a good amount of money from their luxury bill, $2 million to be exact according to Stein.
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
Many people would have been satisfied with that, but Pat Riley had another trick up his sleeve to continue slashing salary. That trick was a third trade, as the Heat traded the recently acquired Roberts to the Portland Trail Blazers, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical. The Trail Blazers will be receiving a second-round pick for taking on Roberts, who will slot right into their remaining salary cap space, according to Ken Berger, and NBA Insider at CBS Sports.
Wojnarowski went on to add that the Heat were able to drop under the luxury tax threshold with the deal, saving an estimated $6 million in the process.
With the Roberts deal, Miami drops under the luxury tax, saving $6M.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 18, 2016
Despite not acquiring any players in the deal for Roberts, the Heat come out ahead as major winners. By getting Roberts’ salary off the books, the Heat no longer have to pay any luxury taxes; instead they will be receiving money from the teams that are over the tax.
Next: NBA Trade Deadline Live Tracker
Trading Roberts was the last piece of the puzzle for Riley and the Heat’s front office, as they accomplished their goal of getting under the luxury tax.