These trades were the culmination of a season long effort by Miami to get under the luxury tax line. Earlier in the season, they acquired the very unloadable contract of Jarnell Stokes, and Beno Udrih, for Mario Chalmers. After dealing Stokes to New Orleans, the net salary savings of that deal comes to $2,129,535.
The second leg of deadline day savings came with the acquisition and dumping of Brian Roberts’ contract. The two-part move allowed Miami to ditch all of the $5 million due to Chris Andersen from their salary bill. By the end of trade deadline, the Heat had managed to get to a team salary of $84,424,244. A mere $275,756 below the luxury tax line of $84,700,000.
A repeat tax offender is defined as a team over the luxury tax line three out of the past four years. By getting under the luxury tax line this year, the Heat have now gone two consecutive years under the tax line, and are no longer considered a repeat tax offender.
If the Heat had not gotten below the luxury tax, they would have been considered a repeat offender and forced to pay $2.75 for every $1 they were over the luxury tax line. The deadline moves made by the Heat save about $16 million in luxury tax bills.
Below are the deals that got Miami below the luxury tax threshold.
Heat Get: 2nd round pick (2018 NOP*)
Pelicans Get: Jarnell Stokes F
Miami is able to shed the $845,059 due to Stokes while getting a heavily protected second rounder in 2018. They will only receive the pick if the Pelicans are a top 5 team in two years, which seems improbable.
Heat Get: Cash considerations
Blazers Get: Brian Roberts G, 2nd round pick (2021 MIA)
The rare trade that helps both teams out. Miami needed to get under the luxury tax line, and the Trail Blazers needed to reach the salary cap floor. Since the Blazers could have absorbed anyone’s contract, they receive a 2021 2nd rounder for helping out Miami.
*2018 NOP 2nd rounder protected selections 31-55