Miami Heat acquire Oladipo at deadline
Heat acquire Oladipo from Rockets for Olynyk, Bradley, pick swap
The Miami Heat opted for a low-cost test drive at Thursday’s NBA trading deadline, rather than something more costly.
Minutes before the 3 p.m. deadline, the Heat closed a deal with the Houston Rockets for veteran guard Victor Oladipo, at the cost of Kelly Olynyk, Avery Bradley and a 2022 firstround pick swap.
The move came after the Heat refused to budge in a high-stakes stare down with the Toronto Raptors over guard Kyle Lowry.
So instead of dangling second-year guard Tyler Herro, or parting with the youthful potential of Duncan Robinson and Precious Achiuwa, the Heat sent out a pair of players who likely would have been lost in free agency this summer.
That also could be the case with Oladipo, 28, who is in the final year of his contract, earning $21 million this season.
The ultimate cost for the Heat, and the ultimate net gain for the Rockets, is in the 2022 pick swap, which most likely will come with the first-round pick Houston holds from the Brooklyn Nets. That could have the Heat in the 2022 first round, moving from the late teens or early 20s closer to the 30th and final pick of the first round, based on the Nets’ roster
of James Harden, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.
Olynyk had been starting in the void of other options for coach Erik Spoelstra, struggling this season with his 3-point shooting. Bradley only played 10 games with the Heat after being signed in the offseason in free agency, missing eight games due to COVID-19 and his final 23 with the Heat due to a calf strain.
“I’m sure there’s a lot of emotions for everybody, and the range of emotions are different, depending on what your circumstance is. And that’s a reality,” Spoelstra said of the roster shuffle ahead of Thursday night’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers at AmericanAirlines Arena. “There’s a human side to it, for sure. And then there’s the business side of it, and you have to be able to compartmentalize it, too.”
The Oladipo deal was closed after the Raptors held firm on their asking price for the 35-year-old Lowry.
Like Lowry, Oladipo can become a free agent this summer.
Should the short-term tryout with Oladipo work out, the Heat will have Oladipo’s Bird Rights to re-sign him above the salary cap, and therefore pick up the 2021-22 options on the contracts of guard Goran Dragic and forward Andre Iguodala.
Should the Heat opt to move on from Oladipo, they then could be positioned to cobble together as much as $28 million in salary-cap space . . . possibly to sign Lowry when he hits free agency.
For all the high-end talent the Heat had been linked to, they navigated the process by upgrading in the backcourt with Oladipo and in the frontcourt with Sacramento Kings outside-shooting big man Nemanja Bjelica, who was acquired Thursday at the cost of Moe Harkless and Chris Silva.
“I just know there’s a human side to it, and that’s OK, to have whatever emotions that you feel and are going through,” Spoelstra said of those rumored in trades who remain with the team. “But it’s behind us now and now everybody can focus on the task at hand and we have some work to do, obviously, the next three months.”
The Heat, in the process, opened a pair of roster spots, likely now to be filled from an intriguing pool on the buyout market, with LaMarcus Aldridge a prime target.
Based on the Heat’s remaining room below the luxury tax, they likely will add one player soon and then another later in the season.
Oladipo had been linked to the Heat prior to this season’s trade from the Indiana Pacers to the Rockets, as part of that deal that sent Harden to the Nets.
Oladipo gives the Heat another two-way perimeter threat to pair with Jimmy Butler.
The Heat typically reach agreements in advance with such impending free agents, as was the case with Dragic and Shaquille O’Neal, when they were acquired at the trade deadline at the expiration of their contracts.
But with Oladipo’s injury history, that might not necessarily be the case.
As for Lowry, the Raptors found themselves in staredowns with several potential suitors, with the Philadelphia 76ers instead dealing for George Hill and the Los Angeles Clippers for Rajon Rondo.
Oladipo’s acquisition came with the Heat a .500 team in search of impetus in a bid to replicate last season’s success, when they advanced to the NBA Finals and moved within two victories of a championship.
Earlier in the day, the Heat moved to get the small stuff out of the way, with the move for Bjelica, who essentially will serve as a short-term replacement for Olynyk.
Bjelica, 32, is earning $7.2 million this season on the final year of his contract.
Harkless, signed in the offseason as a free agent, proved unable to crack the Heat power rotation, appearing in only 11 games, with Silva also limited in his contributions in the power rotation after unexpected contributions last season as an undrafted rookie.
By rule, the Heat are not allowed this season to re-sign Olynyk, Bradley, Silva or Harkless if they are released by their acquiring team.
In a prelude to the deadline, the Heat last week acquired Trevor Ariza from the Oklahoma City Thunder for Meyers Leonard, who was waived Thursday by Oklahoma City.