Miami Heat

Miami Heat's one concern after a flurry of trades: A lack of cash

Published Jul. 30, 2015 1:48 p.m. ET

foxsports

The experts have spoken, and the results of the summer are clear: The Miami Heat are ready to rise once more in the Eastern Conference and compete for a spot in the NBA Finals. And as the Heat have put the finishing touches on their roster, a couple of trades have been necessary to create space for players such as Josh Richardson.

Those trades have also aimed to lessen Miami's luxury tax burden for 2015-16 and beyond. And because teams know that the Heat were looking to move players, Miami has had to include a bit of cash in trades that sent out Shabazz Napier and Zoran Dragic.

On the surface, that's not really a big deal. That money doesn't count against the salary cap, after all. But Ira Winderman of the Sun-Sentinel points out that the Dragic and Napier trades could limit what the Heat are able to do on the trade market for the rest of the season:

"The issue, however, is the Heat included $1.5 million in the trade of Zoran Dragic to the Celtics to pay off his contract and a bit over $1 million in the trade of Shabazz Napier to the Magic to pay off his contract. So precious little remains, which could limit the ability to purchase a second-round pick in next year's draft, with the Heat currently without such a selection."

While the Heat can take back cash in future trades, Winderman points out that doesn't replenish the approximately $3 million that Miami is allowed to send out in trades over the course of a season. The Heat, then, have less than $1 million remaining to help sweeten any deals Miami might want to make over the remainder of the summer and the 2015-16 season.

(h/t Sun-Sentinel)