Roster set for season and more
Winslow’s option expected to be picked up by Heat
The majority of the work is now done, the bulk of the money spent. What you see now of the Miami Heat roster likely is what you will get when training camp opens Sept. 26.
Two financial decisions still remain, one a relative no-brainer, another expected to be put on hold.
By the start of the season, the Heat front office will have to decide on the $3.4 million 2018-19 option on the final year of Justise Winslow’s rookie-scale contract. Expect that option to be picked up well in advance of the deadline.
Then there is the $4.3 million mid-level exception the Heat retain. With names such as Tony Allen and Shabazz Muhammad recently taken off the board, the exception at this point likely is best held for a rainy day or, perhaps, a Dwyane Wade day. Little of what remains in free agency makes particular sense for the Heat, unless you are a particular fan of Monta Ellis, David Lee, Leandro Barbosa, Rodney Stuckey or Beno Udrih.
As for what already has transpired this offseason, a look back at the Heat’s moves in terms of bang for the buck.
Signing James Johnson to four-year, $60 million contract:
The Heat’s most extravagant offseason move also was the most essential. Yes, there is risk paying a player through his 34th birthday. But so much of what the Heat accomplished over the second half of last season was built around Johnson’s versatility. To have moved way from Johnson would have been to distance themselves from 30-11.
Signed Josh Richardson to four-year, $42 million extension:
Don’t get caught up in how much the Heat spent this offseason and the timing of the deals. Instead, evaluate each of the moves independently. Over the next five seasons, the Heat will be paying Richardson at average of $8.7 million. As a matter of perspective, the full mid-level exception next summer will be $8.7 million. How is that not value?
Picked up $6.3 million for 2017-18 on Wayne Ellington’s contract:
Without a dominant scorer, spacing will be essential. No one on the roster spaces the floor better than Ellington. Plus there now are early-Bird Rights to play with next summer.
Picked up partial guarantees on Rodney McGruder, Okaro White:
Even if McGruder doesn’t start, having these next two seasons at minimal dollars is worth any guaranteed money along the way. As for White, the $453,000 spent to this point has no salary-cap or luxury-tax implications.
Signed Kelly Olynyk to four-year, $50 million
contract: With the game evolving to the perimeter, the Heat locked in a contrast to Hassan Whiteside’s game at reasonable dollars. With Whiteside, Olynyk, James Johnson, Bam Adebayo, the Heat have established an intriguing mix in their power rotation.
Signed Dion Waiters to four-year, $52 million contract:
The moments, at times, were spectacular last season. The metrics and statistics, though, often spoke otherwise. For all the chemistry with Goran Dragic, there still has to be a level of consistency and health to justify even these dollars.
Retained Tyler Johnson’s back-loaded contract:
Having said with the Richardson contract that individual evaluations must be assessed in a vacuum, if the Heat were certain about the Richardson extension, might it have made sense to move Johnson’s escalating contract? Then again, would there have been a taker at $19.2 million in 2018-19 and ’19-20?
Signed Jordan Mickey to two-year, minimumscale contract:
Never doubt the Heat when it comes to potential and projects.
Signed undrafted rookies Derrick Walton Jr. and Matt Williams Jr.:
Nothing wrong with cultivating additional 3-point shooting.
Signed Larry Drew II to minimally guaranteed contract:
The $50,000 guarantee will pay itself off with the ability to now rest Dragic during training camp.
Signed Udonis Haslem to one-year, $2.3 million contract:
Only those inside the locker room truly know the value of having Haslem in uniform on game nights.
Acquired A.J. Hammons’ two-year contract from Dallas Mavericks:
The price to create the cap space to retain Ellington was steep; having to give up on the final year of Josh McRoberts’ contract, having to utilize all of their available cash that can be spent in trades in for 2017-18 ($5.1 million), and having to take on two guaranteed seasons of Hammons at the veteran minimum.