Q: How come the Nets were able to send Joe Harris’ contract to the Pistons’ cap space but the Heat couldn’t unload Kyle Lowry or Duncan Robinson? – Robert.
A: Joe Harris is entering the final year of a contract that pays $19.9 million next season; Kyle Lowry is entering the final year of a contract that pays $29.7 million next season. That’s a significant difference. As for Duncan Robinson, he still has three more seasons left on his contract, including this coming season at $18.2 million. The Nets basically had the right contract to fit into the Pistons’ sweet spot, plus a couple of second-round picks to toss in as sweeteners. The Heat, by contrast, have more cumbersome, clunky contracts to unload. Had Duncan been in the final year of his contract, a return to Michigan could have made sense for both parties. Still, to their credit, the Heat did get off of Victor Oladipo’s remaining money with their late-night trade with Oklahoma City.
Q: Maybe there should be a rule that a team gets additional compensation or credit against the salary cap when an undrafted player is developed by said team? – Stuart.
A: I appreciate the frustration here, considering all the work, time and sweat equity the Heat invested into the development of Max Strus and Gabe Vincent. But the Heat also had the right to pay each up to the maximum in free agency, having kept each around long enough to hold Bird Rights. Instead, the contracts of others got in the way. The bottom line is that the Heat already got their payoff from Max and Gabe, in the form of NBA Finals-level contributions from the two on minimum-scale salaries. So that was a W for the Heat, just as free agency is a W for Max (apparently, with his initial departure deal held up) and Gabe. In the NBA, you determine your leading men and accept the rest of the cast as rentals. The gift was theirs to borrow.
Q: Now that James Harden seemingly is moving on from Philadelphia, any chance that Joel Embiid might want to take his talents to South Beach and join his buddy Jimmy Butler? – Bob, Davie.
A: Oh, I think Joel Embiid would definitely like to do that. But being under contract to the 76ers, that is not his choice. And, no, I do not believe the Heat would acquiesce to a deal that would send Bam Adebayo to Philadelphia in return. even if the 76ers would consider such. Of course, all of this is fluid, as seemingly has been the case with anything and everything 76ers in recent years.
