3 biggest free-agent mistakes in Miami Heat history
By Jakob Ashlin
Miami Heat biggest free-agent mistakes: 1. Giving Brian Grant a superstar deal (2000)
Contract: 7 years, $87 million
In 2000, the Heat made the bold choice to sign Brian Grant to a seven-year, $87 million contract.
Grant was a good, reliable big man for the Portland Trail Blazers, averaging 10.2 points and 8.0 rebounds across three seasons. However, the Heat gave him a superstar-level contract. For perspective, the NBA had a salary cap of $35.5 million in 2000. In 2023, the salary cap is $134 million. So, if we adjust Grant’s contract for the current CBA, it would be valued at seven years, $328.39 million.
During the 2002-03 season, he had a higher salary than Vince Carter, Dirk Nowitzki, Paul Pierce, Antawn Jamison, and Jason Kidd. Grant was a solid player for the Heat. He was a fixture in the starting lineup, and he averaged 11.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 0.7 steals in four seasons. The Heat just overpaid him.
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