“We’re excited about the trade”.
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The Heat play the Los Angeles Lakers tonight at 7:30 EST at American Airlines Arena. The point guard was a key contributor throughout the Big Three era, primarily operating as the team’s starting point guard alongside LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
But the financial subtext of the trade also factors in.
“This is a tough day for myself and the organization in trading Mario Chalmers and James Ennis“, Heat president Pat Riley said in a team statement.
Financially speaking, Miami forked up $4.3M salary of Chalmers in exchange for Udrih and his $2.17M contract, which is barely half of what Chalmers is slated to make.
Sources say Miami could elect to keep searching for trades for both Udrih and Stokes as it seeks to further reduce its luxury-tax bill. However, the trade is ultimately viewed as a luxury tax-saving move. He noted that Stokes fits better in Miami.
But Ennis’s future with the Heat was in doubt when he couldn’t carve out a role in Miami’s rotation, last season.
After months of rumors, the Heat appear to be on the cusp of unloading Mario Chalmers. Based on the Heat’s overall history of injuries, a third-string point guard on the roster could find themselves with substantial minutes throughout the season. “He’ll always be remembered as a two-time champion point guard here in Miami, welcomed in Miami from here on out”. “And he can be proud of his time here”. Team’s no. 1 point guard is Mike Conley who is somehow making a good account of himself but other than him, they need more output from the back court.
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He’s going to get booed in his first game traded to a new team. “He makes plays, not afraid of the moment”. He is in his eighth National Basketball Association season, only with the Heat, and remains known for the overtime-forcing jumper that lifted Kansas past Memphis for the 2008 NCAA title. But his production off the bench for the Heat this season in limited minutes has been pretty terrible. He’s also played for San Antonio, Sacramento, Milwaukee, Orlando, NY and the Grizzlies. He is a career. 364 this season. Like Dragic, he is a left-handed Slovenian. Stokes is a former 2014 second round pick by the Utah Jazz that was sent over to Memphis. He has a build and game similar to that of the Haslem.
