The Miami Heat may look at a trade for Jamal Crawford this summer and names like Mario Chalmers, Chris Andersen or Josh McRoberts could be traded to make the deal happen, as Miami could look at adding some depth for Dwyane Wade alongside Gerald Green and this comes as the Cavaliers and Knicks are also interested in Crawford.
Miami has a crowded roster situation right now, but the team has the chance to pare things down as training camp gets closer. According to Pro Basketball Talk, the Heat have been looking to trade Mario Chalmers and Chris Andersen this offseason in the hopes of lowering their luxury tax bill moving forward. The team has already traded Zoran Dragic and Shabazz Napier this offseason and now Miami could continue looking at trade deals.
According to Frank Isola at the NY Daily News, the Knicks and Cavaliers have shown interest in Jamal Crawford and Miami was also mentioned as another option for the Clippers guard. Ira Winderman at the Sun Sentinel writes that the Heat could make "matching deals" for Crawford with the salaries of either Chris Andersen or Josh McRoberts and that could be an option if the Knicks or Cavaliers do not go through with a trade for Crawford.
Miami has some roster decisions to make, as the team just added Keith Benson and he will make 16 players for the team under contract coming into camp. The team can hold onto players heading into camp, but they will need to get down to 15 guaranteed players by the time the season starts. Tyler Johnson is in for the team and Benson could compete for a spot along with James Ennis, who is on a non-guaranteed deal and has a deadline for just before the season for Miami to decide on keeping him or not.
For Miami to realistically make a move, the team will have to deal Chalmers, Andersen or McRoberts, as those players have money on their deals to make a trade happen. Miami is less likely than the Knicks or Cavs to trade for Crawford, as the team is satisfied after adding Green, but there is a chance a deal still could happen. Andersen and Chalmers are both on expiring deals and teams could be interested in adding those players if they want to cut some salary into next year.
Dwyane Wade is going to need to have his minutes managed moving forward in his career and having Green helps, but the team may need more with Josh Richardson signed after being a second round pick. Crawford would give the team some solid outside shooting and bench scoring and he can play time behind Wade. The Clippers are likely to deal Crawford, as his role with the team is going to be diminished.
The Clippers added Lance Stephenson in a trade and signed Josh Smith, Paul Pierce and Wesley Johnson and that doesn't even factor in players like JJ Redick and Pablo Prigioni. Crawford averaged nearly 16 points per game last season and the Knicks reportedly could deal Jose Calderon to the Clippers to try and get a deal done.
Check here for more on the Miami heat offseason moves, the trade interest in Crawford and more on the possibility of Mario Chalmers, Chris Andersen and Josh McRoberts getting traded this year.
