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Q: What is the “book” around the NBA on Ja Morant? Was he worth pursuing, considering his off-court issues? I couldn’t have imagined him on South Beach. Would the Heat have taken a flyer on him or was the money too much? – Rick, Fort Lauderdale.
A: As it is, the Ja Morant question has become moot for the Heat, with Morant’s trade from the Grizzlies to the Trail Blazers for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray. From a Heat perspective, the off-court issues were overstated. Time and again, the Heat have made that work. The real question with Ja Morant was/is a seeming loss of explosion, which is critical for a player of his attacking style. Plus, there was the huge dip in 3-point percentage. Yes, the contract was a lot and arguably too much from a Heat perspective. But if the Heat could have offloaded Nikola Jovic’s contract, then it would have made such money more palatable, especially since Niko has four years left on his deal and Ja two on his. So Morant at $42 million this season minus Jovic’s $16 million, would have made it a $26 million Heat risk. But even then, the Heat would have had to throw in another contract, likely that of Davion Mitchell. Which raises another question: At this point, with this Heat roster, would you rather have had Ja Morant or Davion Mitchell?
Q: Would you categorize the new Andrew Wiggins contract as a lose-win situation? It did not create any additional space under the first apron to re-sign Norman Powell or some other starter at shooting guard. But it provides a lot of payroll relief in the following two seasons, which management may have deemed essential to give Giannis Antetokounmpo his extension, absorb ballooning salaries such as Bam Adebayo’s, and still re-sign Pelle Larsson to a more lucrative contract after his current contract expires at the end of this coming season? – Morgan, New Orleans.
A: More than any of the analysis is this reality: Andrew Wiggins was going to opt into his $30.2 million for next season, regardless of the Heat’s desires. Against that backdrop, the Heat were able to make the best of the situation. Once they had to Pivot to a Plan B, the Heat made the best of the situation.
Q: How does the first apron hard cap trigger work? I understand it was triggered from utilizing the trade exception to take in Bobby Portis and taking in more salary than sent out in acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo. However, the trade isn’t finalized (yet) and won’t be until July 6. At the trade deadline, we’ve seen deals start with two teams and then be expanded to seven teams. Hypothetically, could this trade be expanded so that it won’t trigger the hard cap (such as, again hypothetically, forwarding Bobby Portis elsewhere)? Or because it was announced already, does it lock us into being hard-capped, regardless? I know we’ve previously run into salary-cap issues due to timing of events (with Juwan Howard for example). – Joseph, Boston.
A: It absolutely still could be expanded, but the only ways I see the Heat being able to unlock the two hard-cap factors you cite would be to find takers for Nikola Jovic (or Bobby Portis or both) and Davion Mitchell (and to be willing to part with Davion Mitchell). The issue is whether the Heat have enough hefty contracts to unlock themselves from the hard cap, let alone willing partners.
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A: As it is, the Ja Morant question has become moot for the Heat, with Morant’s trade from the Grizzlies to the Trail Blazers for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray. From a Heat perspective, the off-court issues were overstated. Time and again, the Heat have made that work. The real question with Ja Morant was/is a seeming loss of explosion, which is critical for a player of his attacking style. Plus, there was the huge dip in 3-point percentage. Yes, the contract was a lot and arguably too much from a Heat perspective. But if the Heat could have offloaded Nikola Jovic’s contract, then it would have made such money more palatable, especially since Niko has four years left on his deal and Ja two on his. So Morant at $42 million this season minus Jovic’s $16 million, would have made it a $26 million Heat risk. But even then, the Heat would have had to throw in another contract, likely that of Davion Mitchell. Which raises another question: At this point, with this Heat roster, would you rather have had Ja Morant or Davion Mitchell?
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Q: Would you categorize the new Andrew Wiggins contract as a lose-win situation? It did not create any additional space under the first apron to re-sign Norman Powell or some other starter at shooting guard. But it provides a lot of payroll relief in the following two seasons, which management may have deemed essential to give Giannis Antetokounmpo his extension, absorb ballooning salaries such as Bam Adebayo’s, and still re-sign Pelle Larsson to a more lucrative contract after his current contract expires at the end of this coming season? – Morgan, New Orleans.
A: More than any of the analysis is this reality: Andrew Wiggins was going to opt into his $30.2 million for next season, regardless of the Heat’s desires. Against that backdrop, the Heat were able to make the best of the situation. Once they had to Pivot to a Plan B, the Heat made the best of the situation.
Q: How does the first apron hard cap trigger work? I understand it was triggered from utilizing the trade exception to take in Bobby Portis and taking in more salary than sent out in acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo. However, the trade isn’t finalized (yet) and won’t be until July 6. At the trade deadline, we’ve seen deals start with two teams and then be expanded to seven teams. Hypothetically, could this trade be expanded so that it won’t trigger the hard cap (such as, again hypothetically, forwarding Bobby Portis elsewhere)? Or because it was announced already, does it lock us into being hard-capped, regardless? I know we’ve previously run into salary-cap issues due to timing of events (with Juwan Howard for example). – Joseph, Boston.
A: It absolutely still could be expanded, but the only ways I see the Heat being able to unlock the two hard-cap factors you cite would be to find takers for Nikola Jovic (or Bobby Portis or both) and Davion Mitchell (and to be willing to part with Davion Mitchell). The issue is whether the Heat have enough hefty contracts to unlock themselves from the hard cap, let alone willing partners.
Continue reading...
