The Miami Heat have traded backup center Thomas Bryant to the Indiana Pacers for a future second-round pick swap, ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania first reported Friday.
According to Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald, the pick swap will be in 2031.
Bryant, 27, becomes eligible to be traded on Dec. 15, when most of the free agents who signed in the summer become trade-eligible. Thus, the deal can’t become official until that date.
Once the trade does become official, the Heat will have just 13 players on standard contracts, one below the league minimum. Per league rules, a team can operate with 13 standards for up to two weeks, so a corresponding move doesn’t have to happen right away.
Most importantly, by trading Bryant, the Heat opens up another roster spot so it can potentially convert one of its two ways — Dru Smith, Keshad Johnson or Josh Christopher — to a standard contract. By far the likeliest option is Smith, who’s been with the organization for parts of three seasons and is playing the best basketball of his life right now.
The 6-foot-3 guard has averaged 8.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.2 steals over his last five games, including back-to-back 11-point performances against the Cavaliers and Raptors, respectively. Over that five-game span, he’s shooting 48.3 percent from the floor, 53.3 percent from 3-point range (8-15) and 66.7 percent from the free-throw line (4-6).
In 10 games, Bryant is averaging 4.1 points and 3.2 rebounds in just 11.5 minutes per game, shooting 42.9 percent from the floor and 35.3 percent from 3-point range, where he took 60.7 percent of his field goal attempts.
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Thats a surprise. Best wishes, Thomas.
Anyway, best wishes to Bryant. Enthusiastic and always gave 100%.
Trade will be completed Sunday. Something I and others have speculated about for a while now. This has several effects. One, this should allow Ware to start getting regular playing time, though he still is technically behind Love. Two, it should allow Dru to move to a regular contract. Three, it should allow Stephens to get the open 2-way contract. Four, it may allow Keshad to get a pro rated regular contract sooner than later.
I wonder if Alec Burks will be moved.
thanks for that. This definitely feels like a ‘small move before a big move’ type of transaction. i was wondering if this was opening up a roster spot for the Jimmy Butler trade. But it seems more likely this will open up a roster spot for a Drusky contract
sounds like rc has worked in a front office before
Yes, expecting a Ware pt. We’ll see in the coming days what else would transpire after this domino fell. Go Heat!