HOT TRADE RUMORS: Miami Eyes Wanted $37 Million Guard 

Hot Trade Rumors: Miami Eyes Wanted $37 Million Guard

Erik Spoelstra, coach of the Miami Heat

It’s not Thanksgiving yet, so it’s a little early to start the Miami Heat trade rumors, but a promising start with the team’s star players and glaring holes elsewhere on the roster are potential NBA trades. And while there has been speculation around the league that the Heat will make a big deal at some point, the reality is that they are more likely to stick with their current stars and upgrade role players.

There, one of the league’s top players could add winter fuel to the Heat’s trade talks. Bulls guard Alex Caruso isn’t on the market yet, but he’s already generating some buzz as a player Chicago could buy as it looks to move away from its veterans and toward young players.

And Caruso would help the Heat cause a lot. The backfield is a disaster as Tyler Herro is now out with an injury and veteran Josh Richardson appears to be in over his head. Caruso plays with an energy and passion that coach Erik Spoelstra likes and can play both guard positions.

“They need a point guard in the worst way,” said one Eastern Conference executive. “They’re not bashing the store or anything, they’re not acting like that. They’re saying they like Josh and Dru Smith and all that stuff. But they have to be careful, and if the Bulls announce that Alex Caruso can be traded, they should be the first. He’s totally Erik Spoelstra’s type. They will definitely look at him. We all do.”

Rumors of a hot trade, tempered by the salary structure

However, one of the problems with this season’s Miami Heat trade rumors is the team’s salary structure. The top four players earn more than $27 million – Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, Kyle Lowry and Tyler Herro. Duncan Robinson makes $18 million, and after that the Heat have Caleb Martin ($6.8 million) and eight players on near-minimum contracts worth less than $4 million.

That makes it difficult to match Caruso’s salary ($9.5 million). Martin would be the easiest route, but he is a key member of the Heat and Miami will not move him. The Heat could put together smaller contracts after the Dec. 15 hit (meaning newly signed players can be traded), but even that will be difficult.

If they were to add, say, Richardson, Orlando Robinson and 2022 first-round pick Nikola Jovic along with a future first-round pick, they would take on $2.4 million in salary, and for a team with a $180 million payroll, that would put. they are dangerously close to $182.7 million to the dollar, which is the “second apron” of the dollar luxury tax.

This would probably require the involvement of a third team (three on one the Bulls would not want). But it would be difficult to thread the needle.

Alex Caruso becomes “coveted”

And Caruso is a desirable commodity when traded. He is a proven winner (he helped the Lakers to a bubble championship) and a role player who can command speed and defense. His contribution is far more valuable than the 6.0 points on 43.0% shooting he had in his career.

Of course, a crowded market would make it difficult for such Heat trade rumors to move forward. But he figures to be a name in the Heat trade rumor mill. “Desire is a good word for him. If you want to make a deal tomorrow, they can trade Alex Caruso,” the executive told Heavy Sports. “Half the teams in the league would be there with an offer. A lot of teams are watching and looking at Caruso more than anyone else on the roster. It’s just a question of when the Bulls are ready to make the changes and let him go. .

Sean Deveney is a veteran sports reporter covering the NBA and NFL for Heavy.com. He has written for Heavy since 2019 and has more than two decades of NBA experience, including 17 years as Sporting News’ NBA editor. Deveney is the author of 7 non-fiction books including “Fun City,andquot; andquot;Before Wrigley became Wrigley,andquot; and andquot;Michael Jordan’s face.andquot; Learn more about Sean Deveney