Report: Heat Trade Guard Mario Chalmers to Grizzlies In Four-Player Deal
The Miami Heat have dealt Mario Chalmers and James Ennis to the Memphis Grizzlies in a trade package that will send Beno Udrih, Jarnell Stokes and a second-round pick to Miami, according to Yahoo! Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski.
The trade will save Miami approximately $7.9 million in payroll and luxury tax payments and will drop the Heat to $5.6 million above the luxury tax line.
For those asking: This trade was done for savings. It won’t affect Heat’s summer of 2016 plans. I’d suggest not to focus on cap holds.
— Albert Nahmad (@AlbertRandom1) November 10, 2015
Chalmers, a second-round pick in 2008, won two championships with Miami as their starting point guard and ranks fourth in franchise history in games played, sixth in minutes played and third in assists.
A career 36 percent three-point shooter, he’s averaging 5.5 points, 3.2 assists and 1.3 steals in 20 minutes this season in the final year of his two-year, $8.3 million contract.
Udrih, who is on an expiring contract worth $2.7 million, gives the Heat another lefty Slovenian guard, currently averaging 5.9 points, 3.3 assists and 1.1 rebounds in 15 minutes this season.
The 11-year journeyman is shooting 36.4 percent (4-11) from beyond three and 43.5 percent overall from the field.
However, it seems the Heat are keen believers in the emergence of second-year guard Tyler Johnson and the growth of rookie Josh Richardson to replace the services of their long-time point guard.
It should also signal the return of Gerald Green back into the Heat’s rotation after missing five consecutive games since being hospitalized last week.
Now here’s a career highlight film to relive some of the best moments of Chalmers tenure with the Heat:
Here’s a video montage of Mario Chalmers getting yelled at over the years #ByeChalmers #MiamiHeat #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/wdlbqzccKd — gifdsports (@gifdsports) November 10, 2015
Mario Motherf***ing Chalmers. GAME 4 FORRRR LIIIIIIIFE https://t.co/s8L7YtVfuf
— Brendan Tobin (@Brendan_Tobin) November 10, 2015