The Miami Heat have been trying to trade Mario Chalmers and Chris Andersen all offseason and heading into camp the team is likely to keep Chalmers, as the team wants to see if Josh Richardson and Tyler Johnson can handle playing backup for Goran Dragic before pulling the trigger on a Chalmers deal.
Miami has been looking to deal Chalmers and/or Andersen to help lower the luxury tax bill for this season and it comes after the team already dealt Zoran Dragic and Shabazz Napier. According to the Miami Herald, Barry Jackson reports that while the Heat would like to trade Chalmers this offseason, the team is likely going to bring him into camp before making a move. Most other team rosters are set and interest could be better in camp and it also comes as the team "wants to take a long look" at their young players.
Richardson is coming in as a draft pick, while Johnson does not have too much experience and is coming back from a broken jaw. Johnson has reportedly been cleared for workouts after being injured in the summer league and now that he is ready ahead of camp, Miami wants to assess the situation fully before making a trade with Chalmers. While a Chalmers deal would be helpful money wise, the team also realizes that they may need some veteran experience behind Goran Dragic at point guard.
Miami has training camp next month and Jackson writes that Johnson and Richardson will get chances to prove themselves. The team then will decide on "whether to make a renewed attempt" on trading Chalmers. Miami has the chance to get back to the playoffs, as the roster should have some strong depth with Gerald Green, Amar'e Stoudemire and rookie Justise Winslow coming in.
The Miami Heat traded Zoran Dragic to the Boston Celtics and he later was waived and moving forward the team could trade Chalmers or Andersen next. Napier was already traded to help Miami lower the salary cap and luxury tax bill heading into the season and more roster moves could be ahead for Pat Riley to help Miami. The team has James Ennis as an option for the roster and the team pushed a decision on him until just before the season. The Heat also signed Corey Hawkins and Keith Benson and they could be D-League options if they don't make the team.
The Heat traded Napier to the Orlando Magic and Dragic was dealt to the Celtics and those moves were just attempts to get financials in better shape moving forward for Miami. Neither player was expected to contribute much this season. According to Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel, Miami traded Dragic to the Celtics for a heavily-protected 2nd round pick. The team gave up a second round pick in the deal and this trade could help the team clear over $5 million in taxes. According to Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe, the Celtics waived Dragic.
