The Heat have engaged the Wizards in trade discussions, a source in contact with one of the teams tells Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald (Twitter link). Jackson notes that Miami “loves” Bradley Beal, but acknowledges that Washington has repeatedly indicated it has no plans to move its star shooting guard. Even if the Wizards were willing to discuss Beal, the Heat’s limited assets and difficult cap situation would make it “highly challenging” to put together a realistic deal, Jackson adds.
In other Heat trade news, the proposed deal with the Mavericks that appeared to be nearing completion on Sunday now looks dead. It won’t receive the same scrutiny or mockery that the in-season Dillon Brooks/MarShon Brooks mix-up involving the Wizards, Grizzlies, and Suns did, given everything else that’s going on this week, but the Mavs/Heat deal apparently also fell apart due to a miscommunication — Miami was certain that Goran Dragic was involved, while Dallas thought it was acquiring Kelly Olynyk and Derrick Jones, as Tim Cato of The Athletic details.
Here’s more from around the Eastern Conference:
- A source tells Mark Murphy of The Boston Herald that Al Horford‘s decision to sign with the Sixers was partly about money, but also about the opportunity to play alongside a star center. Horford has “always been uncomfortable in a traditional center’s role,” Murphy writes.
- Multiple league executives questioned why the Knicks used their cap room to sign a collection of non-stars rather than trying to take on bad contracts to add future assets, writes Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic.
- Hornets owner Michael Jordan issued a statement today bidding farewell to Kemba Walker and thanking him for “eight incredible seasons with our franchise” (link via JD Shaw of Hoops Rumors). “He always represented the Hornets, the NBA, and the city of Charlotte with class – both on the court and in the community – and we are disappointed he is leaving,” Jordan said.
It’s not just multiple league executives. It’s anyone who understands rebuilding, including fans that pay attention to such things.
Knicks had enough cap space to do a few 1/1’s, and pick up a few 1st’s by renting out cap space. They went strictly with the former, which makes it less likely that any particular 1/1 will ever have any trade value.
They did ultimately (so far) stick to their plan, which looked in jeopardy with the 3year to Randle, but it was a 2+1. I guess tickets to MSG will sell regardless of a transitory team. So, an interesting experiment. I do think Randle will put on a show, even if it’s not a winning one.
Yes, they did actually indicate they were going the 1 year contract route if they struck out a few days prior to striking out. I honestly didn’t think it would be for the entire 70 mm, but it was their plan.
Exactly. They didn’t have to spend all of their cap space on free agents. They couldve picked up a contract along with a pick and still maintained cap flexibility.
They could have gotten a lot more for Kristaps if they didn’t also include the bad contracts.
Yes, usually a bad idea to complicate a major transaction (trading your best player) by coupling it with a more mundane one (contract dumping). As it turned out, little value was added by the contract dump, which is usually the case when you do it that far in advance of when you actually think you’ll need cap space. The premature waiving and stretching of Noah’s contract is in the same category, a rookie FO mistake (that decision didn’t need to made until this summer). If they warehoused him (like the Cavs did with JR Smith), they could have (after striking out) just waived him, without the stretch, and the deal would be off the books completely by next summer.
What if nobody bails out Pat Riley? His boss better visit his doctor about that blood pressure.
Why the hornets didn’t trade Kemba walker I will never understand. Terribly run organization.
They are technically getting Terry Rozier for him, but your point is still valid. I think they were under the impression that they had a good chance to resign him, which probably would have happened if Kyrie had stayed in Boston. Lots of dominoes had to fall the right way for Charlotte and it didn’t work out.