With the NBA Trade Deadline less than two hours away, the Miami Heat had one goal in mind; lowering their salary tax bill.
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Roberts, acquired by the Heat on Tuesday afternoon in a three-team deal which sent shooting guard Courtney Lee to the Charlotte Hornets while transporting big man Chris Anderson and small forward P.J.
Jarnell Stokes’ time in South Beach was short, as the Miami Heat traded the young power forward to the New Orleans Pelicans Thursday in exchange for a protected draft pick, the team confirmed after multiple reports.
The New Orleans Pelicans could be looking at this deal for more than just the money they got from Miami, too. As Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald points out, “It also reduces the Heat’s luxury-tax burden by $2.1 million, leaving Miami $2.6 million above the tax threshold”.
Despite all of the injuries that the Heat faced in the front court, Stokes was never able to crack the rotation, shuttling constantly between the Heat and their National Basketball Association D-League Affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce. He did play in five games with the team, with his final appearance coming on February 9 against San Antonio.
Roberts is averaging 4.8 points and 1.3 assists in 11.1 minutes this season.
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The Pelicans’ first move of the trading season wasn’t exactly a splash.
