8:06pm: The trade for Bjelica is now official, per a Heat press release.
11:46am: The Heat and Kings are finalizing a trade that will send forward Nemanja Bjelica to Miami, sources tell ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link). Sacramento will receive Maurice Harkless and Chris Silva in the deal, Woj adds (via Twitter).
The Heat have been linked to the stretch four for several weeks. They could have fit Bjelica’s $7.15MM salary into a $7.5MM trade exception, which expired on Monday. Instead, Heat president Pat Riley opted to send out players in order to stay below the luxury tax line. Harkless has an expiring $3.623MM contract and Silva is making $1.52MM. There’s a $1.78MM team option attached to Silva’s contract for next season.
As ESPN’s Bobby Marks notes (Twitter link), Miami stays $3.3MM below the tax line and also opens up a roster spot in the two-for-one transaction. Sacramento will have to waive or trade a player to accommodate the extra incoming player.
Bjelica’s role was greatly diminished this season as the new front office and coach Luke Walton made Marvin Bagley III the starter at power forward following an injury-plagued season until he fractured his hand this month.
The 32-year-old Serbian has only appeared in 26 games this season, averaging 7.2 PPG and 3.8 RPG. He had a career year last season, averaging 11.5 PPG and 6.4 RPG in 72 games, including 67 starts. He’s a career 38.7% shooter from 3-point range.
Bjelica’s 3-point threat will likely make him a rotation player for the Heat the remainder of this season. They can then decide whether to re-sign the unrestricted free agent or let him walk to create additional cap flexibility. They’ll have his Bird rights and can go over the cap to re-sign him.
Harkless and Silva only appeared in 11 games apiece this season. They’ll get a fresh start in Sacramento, unless the Kings opt to waive one or both of them.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Pointless for Sacramento.
Two bench players did one. Getting poison of the team good move for Kings.
How was he poison lol bagley is poison this guy actually performed
Love Bjeli. Hope he gets some minutes in Miami.
Silva and Harkless are good defensive players. Its an equal value move. Silva is possibly a better long term project than Bagley!
(ribbing Bagley a little, sorry if you like him)
Come on now. Nobody likes Bagley.
Ha. Neutral fans should enjoy Silva though, who will hopefully get more minutes now. He kind of blunders around but makes it work (that I saw). Isn’t always congratulating himself like Bagley. Faster than Holmes. Not a shooter. Probably does not belong on a playoff team, but could help get there.
Is this to add another shooter to possibly replace Herro or Robinson in a Lowry deal?
Yes. To replace Robinson. Herro is not going anywhere.
This just in…the kings still lack a plan!
My trade grade
Heat B+
Kings F
GM doesn’t know what he is doing
I don’t believe that to be the case. The Kings owner is by all reports hesitant to deal any of their players with real value. McNair probably doesn’t have the freedom to do what he wants because Vivek is so involved.
That’s not true, it’s been reported that McNair has the final say in basketball decisions.
This actually makes me think the Heat might move a shooter. They arguably need defense at the positions they moved. Silva is probably a better defender than Achiuwa right now, but has foul tendencies. Hope to see him continue to develop wherever he goes. Has that Miami Heat DNA in him. Has some UD in him in some ways. Has some more skills than you would think as well
Sacramento has clearly targeted defenders to improve in that area, which was an obvious need, as has been discussed, with them being last in the NBA
Heat destroyed everyone at this deadline, the biggest winners. I bet Steph wishes his FO cared about him as much as the Heat’s FO cares about Jimmy.
A 2024 second round draft pick is included if they pronounce his name correctly at the intro press conference
Good move for Heat no wonder they gave up Olynyk. That still can use a true center. Not sure if Heat can be front runners for Aldridge. Blazers and Celtics should wake up.