Heat trade Brian Roberts to Blazers to get below luxury tax

The Miami Heat have traded newly acquired Brian Roberts to the Portland Trailblazers for a draft pick. Roberts salary now comes off the books and the Heat get below the luxury tax line, which was their goal.

MIami has traded guard Brian Roberts and a second-round pick to Portland, league source tells @TheVertical

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) February 18, 2016

As @WojVerticalNBA reports, Roberts' $2.9m deal comes off Miami's books to push Heat under tax line.

— Ken Berger (@KBergCBS) February 18, 2016

Miami now has two open roster spots, created also by trading Jarnell Stokes for a protected draft pick. They will be able to fill those spots, possibly, without going back over the tax line by offering minimum contracts for this season to players.

There's names out there: Dorell Wright, Michael Beasley, maybe Joe Johnson and more.

The move was made for both flexibility and money reasons.