Q: Giannis Antetokounmpo is scheduled to make over $58 million next season. In looking over the Heat roster, it’s not clear how the Heat will come close to matching his salary with players they would send out. Could you explain the math on this? – Mitchell, Margate.
A: Sure. The Heat would have to send out between 75% and 125% of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s salary for a trade to work under salary-cap rules. If the deal were to be made during this cap-calendar year, thereby by June 30, it could be done by the Heat by sending out the salaries of Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Davion Mitchell. If the trade were to be made after July 1, the Heat could sub in the salary of Nikola Jovic along with Herro and Wade, once Jovic’s extension kicks in. Plus, if Andrew Wiggins opts into next season’s player option by his June 29 deadline, then his salary could be put in at $28.2 million this cap-calendar year or at $30.2 million for next cap-calendar year. So it would be a lot. But it could be done under cap rules.
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Q: For every Heat whale, there has been a basket of fish: With Alonzo Mourning there also were Tim Hardaway, Dan Majerle, Jamal Mashburn, P.J. Brown. With Dwyane Wade there were Shaquille O’Neal, Antoine Walker, Jason Williams, James Posey. With LeBron James and Chris Bosh there were Chris Andersen, Mike Miller, Ray Allen. With Jimmy Butler there were Kyle Lowry, Jae Crowder, PJ Tucker, Max Strus, Gabe Vincent, Caleb Martin. Giannis would be walking into a good supporting cast, depending on who goes to Milwaukee, with the Heat left with Bam Adebayo, Andrew Wiggins, Norman Powell, Davion Mitchell, Kasparas Jakucionis, Pelle Larsson, Myron Garden or Keshad Johnson. There will be about eight unrestricted free-agent center centers available, like Nick Richards. Pat Riley & Co. will fill out the rest. – Morgan, New Orleans.
A: As they consistently have done when provided with elite leading men. Which is why the answer to the question above might seem like giving up a lot, but the perspective also has to be about what would remain and what could be added under cap rules.
Q: To clarify, Ira what’s “your” barometer for success for a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade? Is it to win a championship or just to be relevant/competitive? I say we won’t win a chip because no matter what you put around Giannis, he has proven he can’t stay healthy when it matters most. Injuries have derailed Heat seasons (Terry Rozier, Jimmy Butler, Tyler Herro, Norman Powell). What say you? Are we expecting three seasons of 82 games played? – Joe.
A: First, no one plays 82. But expecting three of say 60-plus or so? That would be the design, something Giannis Antetokounmpo had done every season prior to this past season, when the Bucks’ tanking desires also were a factor. And the barometer for success would be a team that sets up as capable of contending to get to the NBA Finals, where recent seasons, and perhaps even this one, have shown that injuries for the opposition can change anything. Give the Heat, say, Giannis, Bam Adebayo, Andrew Wiggins, Davion Mitchell and Norman Powell as a starting unit, and then a mid-level signing, Pelle Larsson and other holdover components, and, yes, contention should be real. And let’s not overstate a Knicks team that had the cakewalk path to the NBA Finals of Hawks, 76ers and Cavaliers. They escaped both the Celtics and Pistons. So first let’s see what happens next.