Insight on Heat’s lack of activity in the trade market. And Riley on Haslem’s future

Some information on two Heat issues that we have received questions about:

▪ Why didn’t the Heat dump onerous contracts before the trade deadline?

According to a source, other teams wanted Miami to attach a future first-round pick to any of those contracts, and the Heat declined.

That was a sensible decision for two reasons:

1). Miami needs to hold onto its first-round inventory in case an All-Star caliber player becomes available on the trade market in the next year.

The Heat has two first-round picks to use in trades (2023 and either 2028 or 2029). And the Heat can make available an additional first-round pick to trade if Miami and Oklahoma City agree to lift the protections on the lottery-protected 2025 selection that’s due the Thunder.

For the Heat to consider attaching a first-round pick to an expendable big contract in trade talks, the Heat generally would like to acquire a very good player in return. No appealing opportunity of that nature surfaced before the trade deadline.

2). Those big contracts could help facilitate a trade because salaries both sent out and received in trades must be commensurate unless the team receiving salary has substantial cap space to absorb that money and remain under the cap. The Heat will be well over the salary cap this summer.

Players with salaries who could potentially be used to facilitate a trade this summer, if the Heat chooses and finds a market, include Kyle Lowry, who is due $29.7 million next season in the final year of his contract, and Duncan Robinson, who is due $18.2 million next season, $19.4 million in 2024-25, and $19.9 million in 2025-26.

But only $9.9 million of Robinson’s 2025-26 salary is guaranteed. Per hoopshype.com, Robinson’s 2025-26 becomes fully guaranteed “if his team doesn’t waive him on or before two days after the end of 2025/26 moratorium period or if his team wins an NBA championship between 2002 and 2025 season and he achieves various minutes/games played requirements.”

Also, Victor Oladipo has a $9.5 million player option for next season and must inform the Heat of a decision by late June. If he opts in, he would be trade eligible.

▪ Why didn’t the Heat acquire then-Utah guard Donovan Mitchell in a trade last summer?

According to a source, the Heat and Jazz spoke about Mitchell last summer, but Utah’s trade request was far too steep for Miami to consider.

What the Jazz wanted back easily exceeded, in value, what Cleveland gave up: Collin Sexton, Lauri Markkanen, Ochai Agbaji, three first-round draft picks and two pick swaps.

Markkanen has blossomed this season but had never been an All-Star before this season. Sexton has never been an All-Star.

Once Utah quickly indicated a high asking price, the Heat moved on.

The Heat, before last month’s trade deadline, dealt center Dwayne Dedmon to San Antonio for cash considerations. But Miami hasn’t acquired a player via trade in two years.

HASLEM ROLE

Heat president Pat Riley, speaking briefly at the Heat’s Family Festival on Sunday, said Udonis Haslem — who is retiring after this, his 20th, NBA season — is “going to be part of the Heat if he wants to be. He will always come to games. He has the right to walk into a locker room anytime in front of any coach and either love them or get angry with them.”

Haslem told the Miami Herald earlier this season that he envisions a unique role of being an involved minority owner.

On Sunday, Haslem said his plan is “to work toward continuing to be part of this organization at the highest level. I’ve proven to be a tremendous leader, a guy who can ball, who can grow and can learn. I plan to try to sit next to Pat and sit next to [owner] Micky [Arison] and those guys in the future.”

NBA bylaws say any ownership stake must be for at least 1 percent, and a player cannot simply be given a stake. With the Heat valued at more than $2 billion, a 1 percent stake would likely cost at least $20 million.

Does that affect Haslem’s plans to pursue minority ownership in the team? “I know the rules,” he said. “I can figure it out.”

Haslem reiterated Sunday that he has no interest in a coaching career.

“No disrespect to the coaches or coaching staff, but with all the things I want to accomplish in the city of Miami, the schedule doesn’t work out,” he said. “As much things as I have to do in this organization, I have just as much to do outside of the organization.”

Haslem ruled out running for mayor in Miami (a job held by Francis Suarez) or Miami-Dade County (a position held by Daniella Levine Cava).

“No, that’s Francis’ job,” Haslem said when asked if he would run for mayor. “I don’t want your job, Francis. Or Mayor Cava. I don’t want ya’ll jobs. You’all my people.”