The Miami Heat are making more moves this offseason than they originally intended to as the team aims to get back into the playoffs following a year out of the mix. They succeeded in re-signing Goran Dragic and Dwyane Wade while getting Luol Deng to return along with contracts to players like Amar'e Stoudemire. However, that is putting the Heat in a tight salary cap situation which is forcing the team to actively pursue trades in the coming weeks.
According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, the Heat are actively shopping Mario Chalmers, desperate to get a deal done soon. The shopping of Chalmers is not a surprise considering the point guard really began falling out of favor with the team after he and LeBron James struggling to get along back in 2013. He failed to become a valuable part of the team since then and now the Heat are trying to move on quickly.
Chalmers has a contract very easy to acquire for a team looking for short-term help. The point guard has one year and $4 million left on a two-year deal signed with the Heat. While Chalmers is not a starter, he could be valuable depth for any team. Considering the Heat are desperate to get rid of him, they would likely request very little in return.
While there is no reported interest in Chalmers at the moment, there are potential landing spots. The Brooklyn Nets could show real interest in Chalmers. Bleacher Report said the Nets were an option for a trade of Ty Lawson, but considering his DUI arrest, that might not be a thing anymore. Instead, the Nets could move on with Jarrett Jack and acquire Chalmers for depth following the exit of Deron Williams to the Dallas Mavericks. Jack told the media he is ready to fill the hole left by Williams.
"If that's the position they want me to fill, I'm definitely very ready to do so," Jack said, via the New York Daily News. "It's not my first rodeo as far as being thrust into the (starter's) role if that were to be the case. So it's something that's not foreign to me and (I'm) definitely ready for the challenge."
The Houston Rockets could show interest in Chalmers. They recently re-signed Patrick Beverley, but could look to Chalmers for help. The New York Knicks may or may not be happy with their point guard situation as they are starting to get a good look at what Jerian Grant could offer the rotation. The Dallas Mavericks could aim for point guard depth as well. The Heat cannot ask for a lot for Chalmers. He simply is not worth a big return package, but they should be able to find some interest in the point guard in the coming days.
