After losing LeBron James, the Miami Heat signed Luol Deng to a two-year contract on Sunday afternoon. It’s just one of a handful of new contracts dished out in South Beach over the course of the past few days, though Ethan Skolnick seems to believe there’s more to the deals than what meets the eye.
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While the team has signed Chris Bosh long term, he and Josh McRoberts are the only players on their roster who will be owed money past the 2016 season. And why is that important, you ask? Because its the year where a multitude of all-star and superstar talent will be potentially available in free agency, much like 2010 and 2014.
Things can happen and player/team options can be exercised, but just a quick glance at potential free agents in the summer of 2016 include Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Nicolas Batum, Anthony Bennett, Goran Dragic, Roy Hibbert, Al Horford, Dwight Howard, Kevin Love, Joakim Noah, Nerlens Noel, Deron Williams and more.
Given that, it’s understandable as to why teams would be putting themselves in position to have a significant amount of cap space.
Heat's strategy is clear: They're trying to get as many guys (including their own) to take 2 year deals as they can, clear room for 2016.
— Ethan J. Skolnick, 5 Reasons Sports (@EthanJSkolnick) July 13, 2014
Of course, even though the Miami Heat did get Luol Deng to agree on their terms, they might not be as lucky moving forward so they may be forced into decisions about spending money now or preserving that cap space for the future.
Still, the Miami Heat appear to be proactively thinking – trying to build a contender for right now while also giving them financial flexibility for future star power.