The unofficial start of trade season began Monday with over 80 players becoming trade eligible. That included guard Dru Smith, who the Miami Heat brought back (again) on a three-year, $7.9 million deal with the final two years non-guaranteed.
It also marked the expiration of one of their five trade exceptions, which was created in the Thomas Bryant trade with the Indiana Pacers.
One of five Heat trade exceptions expired this week:
Last December, the Heat traded Thomas Bryant to the Indiana Pacers for a 2031 second-round pick swap. While the trade occurred on Dec. 13, 2024, the deal did not become official until Dec. 15 because that’s when Bryant became eligible to be dealt.
Bryant opened up a roster spot that was evidently filled by Keshad Johnson, who was tearing up Sioux Falls on a two-way contract at the time. Since it was a non-simultaneous trade without any salary coming back, it also generated a small $2.1 million trade exception with the Heat.
Those trade exceptions last one calendar year before expiring.
How much does this impact Heat moving forward?
In essence, it’s inconsequential.
If Miami wanted to use the exception, it could’ve taken back $2.2 million in salary in any single trade without sending anything out. While I have zero inside info, the prospects of that happening were always slim to none with them operating near the luxury tax.
The Heat still has four more trade exceptions to work with, with two expiring at the deadline:
- Jimmy Butler Trade to GSW: $7.8 million
- Josh Richardson trade to UTH: $3.1 million
- Duncan Robinson S&T with DET: $16.8 million
- Haywood Highsmith trade to BKN: $5.6 million
Approximately $8.3 million of the original $16.1 million exception generated in the Butler trade was eaten up by Simone Fontecchio — which allowed Miami to create a brand new $16.8 million TPE from Robinson.
Most TPEs go expired, but this gives another route for the Heat to, hypothetically, acquire a player without sending any money out. Most trades at the deadline are both non-simultaneous and simultaneous, complicating where TPEs are created. For more on that, click here.
The Heat are currently in the midst of a five-game losing streak at 14-12. History suggests they will be buyers unless they completely crater — especially if Giannis Antetokounmpo becomes available before then.
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Dru Smith fontecchio jovic Wiggins and some picks for giannis
That’s not realistic. A trade would most likely start with Ware (or, less likely, Bam), Herro, Rozier’s salary, maybe a young player, and picks. Also, the numbers in your proposal would not work.
Gonna probably take Herro, Ware, Jaquez, Wiggins and picks for Gianni’s, his brother and a filler. Too much to give up?
switch ware for bam