With the Miami Heat now a season under their belt without LeBron James, they now see how talented their team is. Many teams don’t mind paying luxury tax if they’re a sure bet for a deep run into the playoffs. However, Miami learned that they are no longer that kind of team. With that said, the Heat have been looking to shed costs where they deem necessary. They have made a few moves over the last week that have helped them get closer to the luxury tax line. Let’s take a look at some of these moves.
Heat Trade Napier to Magic
The Miami Heat traded Shabazz Napier to the Orlando Magic in a lopsided deal. Napier, a former 1st round pick was sent for just a protected 2nd round pick in 2016. The move was a salary dump trade for the Heat who currently have Goran Dragic and Mario Chalmers under contract to play point guard.
Heat Trade Zoran Dragic to Celtics
While the Heat re-signed Goran Dragic, they shipped his younger brother Zoran to the Boston Celtics. Zoran came to the NBA last season joining his brother in Phoenix. However, at the trade deadline the two were both shipped to Miami. Miami is now sending Zoran and a 2020 protected 2nd round pick and cash to Boston for a 2019 protected 2nd round pick.
Heat Waive Henry Walker
You may remember him as Bill Walker from his time with the Knicks and Celtics but Bill returned to the NBA last season as Henry Walker. Walker’s contract for year two was due to pay him $1.1 million, $100,000 of which would become guaranteed if he was on the roster by August 1st. The Heat decided to waive him.
These three moves save the Heat roughly $11 million in salary and luxury tax penalty payments.