Lower cap presents conundrum for Heat; Exploring the new possibilities
Channel: A-Z NEWS
Date: 23/06/2017

Late Wednesday night’s news that the NBA cap likely will be $99 million, about $2 million less than projected, creates a potential conundrum for the Heat, whether Miami is able to sign a max player or not.

With the Heat holding $64.4 million in 2017-18 salary cap commitments (following the impending release and cap-clearing of Chris Bosh’s contract), that leaves Miami with $34.6 million in cap space. Three small salary cap holds of $815,000 – required for each open roster spot up to 12 – account for $2.4 million of that $64.4 million; those holds eventually will be replaced by actual players.

Under that scenario, Miami likely would be unable to afford free agents James Johnson or Dion Waiters if it succeeds in luring Jazz free agent small forward Gordon Hayward or Clippers free agent power forward Blake Griffin.

Under the revised cap, the first-year max salaries for Hayward and Griffin drops from nearly $31 million to $29.7 million.

So the Heat would have just $5.7 million available (removing one open roster cap hold) if its signs Hayward or Griffin to max deals. That almost assurably would not be enough to keep Johnson or Waiters.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/barry-jackson/article157552334.html#storylink=cpy


Pat Riley addresses the media after the 2016-17 season

Miami Heat president Pat Riley gave his annual state of the Heat press conference on April 19, 2017.
David Santiago Miami Herald

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But there are scenarios that would allow the Heat to create more space. Among them:

• Release Josh McRoberts, who’s due $6 million, and stretch his cap allocations over three years at $2 million per season. That would increase the Heat’s space to nearly $38 million, which still might not be enough to keep Waiters or Johnson if Miami signs Hayward to a max deal starting at $29.7 million.

• Trade McRoberts and the No. 1 pick (which has a $2.5 million cap space) for a pick late in the first round or early in the second round. That would reduce the Heat’s cap commitment by as much as $6.9 million (factoring in cap holds), slightly more if the Heat doesn’t get a first-round pick back. That would leave about $41.5 million in space, an amount that perhaps might be enough to sign Hayward and potentially Johnson or Waiters.

• If the Heat is unable to sign Hayward, Griffin or potential target Paul Millsap, Miami figures to use most of its $34.6 million in space on Johnson, Waiters and perhaps keeping Wayne Ellington, who would consume $6.3 million of that space if his contract is guaranteed by the July 7 deadline.

Another possibility that the Heat would be receptive to: Negotiating a multiyear deal with Ellington that would lower his 2017-18 cap number.

 

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/barry-jackson/article157552334.html#storylink=cpy