Miami Heat: Impact of the Tyler Johnson and Wayne Ellington trade
As the 2019 NBA Trade Deadline approached, the Miami Heat decided to move two guards in exchange for a Phoenix Suns forward. The deal impacts the Heat in multiple ways.
With another mediocre season coming to fruition, the Miami Heat decided to make a trade with with the Phoenix Suns.
As first reported by ESPN‘s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Heat agreed to Wayne Ellington and Tyler Johnson to the Suns, receiving Ryan Anderson in return.
This trade doesn’t improve Miami’s title chances in the slightest, but it still impacts the team in multiple ways.
First, it saves them some money, as the Heat’s ludicrous payroll hasn’t translated to much success. As another season with virtually no title hopes rolled on, team president Pat Riley chose to move Johnson’s contract for Anderson’s.
Johnson has a player option for next season $19.2 million (which he will undoubtedly accept), while Anderson is owed $15.6 million. The Heat save money here in terms of paying less luxury tax.
Heat trade Tyler Johnson and Wayne Ellington to Suns for Ryan Anderson. Heat save $8.0M in luxury taxes for 2018-19, and convert TJ’s $19.2M player option into Anderson’s $15.6M partial guarantee for 2019-20... Heat are now just $1.2M over tax line, will surly try to sneak under!
— Albert Nahmad (@AlbertNahmad) February 6, 2019
Secondly, it ships out the disgruntled Ellington. In mid-January, Ellington met with Heat officials to discuss his future with the team. Among the several perimeter players on Miami, Ellington took the biggest hit in terms of playing time.
A sharpshooter of his caliber absolutely has a place in the league, but Miami wasn’t giving it to him. The Suns, who are focusing on developing a young core, will buy Ellington out, so he should find himself on a playoff team soon.
The trade leaves the Heat with 13 roster spots, one short of the required amount. The buyout market is expected to be pretty good this year, so expect the Heat to make a run at the bevy of veteran role players once they agree to buyouts with their new teams. Anderson, a career 38 percent shooter from 3, could see some minutes off the bench.
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For the Suns, they receive another guard to add to their rotation. Johnson is a serviceable point guard who can take some pressure off rookies De’Anthony Melton and Elie Okobo. While $19.2 million is an insane price to pay for Johnson’s mediocre services, it’s not that much of an upgrade compared to what they would’ve been paying Anderson next year.