NBA Trade Deadline 2016: Grading every team’s moves

Miami Heat

The Miami Heat didn’t walk away from the NBA Trade Deadline with much of what you would call tangible. They made the first trade of the 2015-16 season much earlier in the year when they trade Mario Chalmers and James Ennis for Jarnell Stokes and Beno Udrih, but they came out of Thursday with even less than that. And even still, it’s hard to not call this a win for Miami.

On the Tuesday before the trade deadline, Miami swooped in as the third team in the Courtney Lee trade involving the Hornets and Grizzlies. They were able to unload Chris Andersen’s contract for the price of two second round picks and taking on the minuscule contract of Brian Roberts. On Thursday they went dealing further, though, as they sent Stokes to the New Orleans Pelicans for just a second-rounder and then were able to move Roberts and another second-rounder to clear up more cap space.

The goal for the Heat at the deadline was always to cut into their luxury tax penalties and they were able to do that in a major way. Though it’s not going to be sexy, it’s better for the organization’s future in a big way, which makes them winners at the deadline.

Grade: B+

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