Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Ellington coming back to Miami
Heat squeeze guard’s $6.3M option under cap
MIAMI — When the season was over, Miami Heat President Pat Riley stressed stability as the substance of success. As his team lined up contracts Friday at AmericanAirlines Arena, he reiterated that conviction.
“We believe,” Riley said, “that continuity has shown to be one of the important things that we do by keeping a team together.”
So paper was put to pen by Dion Waiters, then James Johnson, followed by next season’s option picked up on Wayne Ellington.
“This,” Waiters said, “is what we built. I knew where I wanted to be.”
“It’s good to know,” Johnson said, “the upper office had the same taste in their mouth and they’re not willing to let that go. We have another crack at it.”
Now the Heat have that opportunity to take that next step, bolstered by the freeagency addition of Boston Celtics big man Kelly Olynyk, who also formally signed his Heat contract Friday.
After days of negotiations, the Heat got down to the procedural portion of NBA free agency, maximizing their math with moves that included finalizing the cap-relief trade of Josh McRoberts to the Dallas Mavericks.
First up was the announcement of Olynyk, who signed a four-year, $50 million contract.
“As soon as Kelly Olynyk became an unrestricted free agent, we pursued him,” Riley said in a statement. “He is not only a post player, he can also play away from the basket.
“What we like the most is that he is a playmaker, tough defender and rugged rebounder. At just 26 years old, he fits in perfect with our young core that will play together in their primes.”
Olynyk made it clear that he knew what
he was getting into.
“The Culture here, I’ve heard so much about it,” he said. “I’m really excited about it . . . . It’s a great opportunity and great fit.”
The Heat shortly thereafter announced the signing of Waiters, who received a four-year, $52 million deal.
“Dion Waiters proved to us last season that we have found one of the best two guards in the NBA and we are happy today to be able to sign Dion to a long-term contract,” Riley said. “We love his game and competiveness. He is an attacker and an excellent three-point shooter as well as a defender. He is a player that has no fear in taking the last shot regardless of the outcome.
“We believe that continuity has shown to be one of the important things that we do by keeping a team together. Having Dion back in the fold is a big factor in keeping that team chemistry together.”
Moments later, the Heat announced the signing of Johnson, who received a four-year, $60 million deal, with a player option for the fourth year.
“James Johnson,” Riley said, “epitomizes everything that the Miami Heat is about. He came in, made a promise to us and then fulfilled that promise by becoming a world-class athlete thus leading to the best season he has had in the NBA. Today, he is being rewarded for the fulfillment of that promise.
“We will continue to push him to get him to an even higher level. His signing today, for me personally and the coaching staff, is one of our happiest signings. We are happy for James and his family as we look for him to have an even greater year next season.”
Johnson said he relished the opportunity.
“I’m ecstatic,” he said. “This is a dream come true. I almost feel like I got drafted again.”
With those signings, the Heat were able to squeeze in the $6.3 million that had to be guaranteed to Ellington by Friday’s deadline. He otherwise would have become a free agent.
For now, the continuity is incomplete.
The Heat remain without three other components of the roster that went 30-11 over the second half of last season to finish 41-41 and miss the playoffs by a tiebreaker.
In the cases of forwards Udonis Haslem and Luke Babbitt the decision could come down to a NBA minimum-salary that is anything but minimal.
Haslem, with his 14 seasons of experience, is eligible for a $2.3 million salary on the minimum scale for 2017-18, with Babbitt, with his seven seasons in the league, eligible for a $2 million 2017-18 salary. Both of those signings can be made regardless of where the Heat stand against the salary cap.
Then there is backup center Willie Reed, who has been looking to cash in on his breakout season. Although he is seeking something in the range of the $4.3 million exception, the Heat already have 7-footers in Hassan Whiteside and Olynyk, as well as the ability to play firstround pick Bam Adebayo at center, with Haslem also a possibility there.
Reed has received reported interest from the Los Angeles Clippers, Golden State Warriors, Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers and Indiana Pacers.
As for the $4.3 million mid-level exception, Riley has a history of keeping it in his back pocket for use when value surfaces.
Riley last summer initially said he did not intend to utilize his remaining exception, only to days later spend it when Waiters became amenable to the figure.
In a fluid free-agent market with dwindling cash reserves remaining around the league, among players who could find themselves having to settle for such an exception could be Mike Dunleavy, Ersan Ilyasova, Monta Ellis, Thabo Sefolosha, C.J. Miles, Leandro Barbosa, Anthony Morrow or Gerald Henderson.