He was replaced by Goran Dragic in the Heat’s starting lineup when they acquired the Slovenian before last season’s trade deadline. The Heat also do not plan on keeping Udrih or Stokes for long.
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Essentially, the Heat and Grizzlies swapped useful rotation players along with a player they each weren’t using.
We’ll get back to Ennis. The point guard had fallen out of favor with the Heat and was owed $4.3 million in the final year of his contract. He averaged 8.8 points and 3.8 assists during his time with the Heat, and had averaged 5.5 points and 3.2 assists in six games thus far this year. That’s what made me who I am. Overall, Chalmers brings a broader capability on both sides of the ball than did Udrih. Chalmers is younger, at least somewhat more athletic and measures out better statistically. Throughout the National Basketball Association offseason and up to the regular season, the rumor mill has been actively churning out news on the Heat’s imminent decision to release Mario Chalmers. Udrih was a deadly mid-range scorer with a tendency to call his own number in transition and off the pick-and-roll.
Chalmers likely will play a backup role in Memphis, too, behind veteran point guard Mike Conley. But it’s a move that might end up factoring into the way these two teams matchup especially if Cleveland struggles with their depth later on this season. Udrih is making $2.17 million and Stokes is making $980K. Shedding Chalmers’ salary saves them in luxury tax payments. But they’ll still be $5 million above their 2015-16 tax threshold. Will that loss in flexibility for potential later trades be a problem?
Ennis and Stokes are simply throw-ins in the deal.
The team declined to comment on what exactly Green did to earn the suspension, but he did miss a November 3 game for what the team called an “illness ” and then was hospitalized shortly after.
Ennis, who played both forward slots, was in his second year with Miami. This is injecting talented, young, exciting players who are hungry, who are pure, who want to win, and they’ve proven to us that they can compete at this level.
“With the departure of Chalmers, the only remaining members of the Heat”s 2013 championship team are Wade, Bosh, Andersen and forward Udonis Haslem.
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Contrary to one report today, the Grizzlies did not renounce their rights to Nick Calathes to complete this deal, an asset that might still have a few value.
