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The Miami Heat have made their first roster move of the season on the eve of the NBA trade deadline, sending guards Tyler Johnson and Wayne Ellington to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for forward Ryan Anderson.
Suns have reached an agreement with Heat to acquire guard Tyler Johnson, league source tells ESPN. https://t.co/rQz2LTvL0k
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 6, 2019
Johnson is making $19,245,370 this season and holds a player option for the same salary next season. He was averaging 10.8 points, 2.5 assists and 2.8 rebounds per game in 25.5 minutes for the Heat, mostly off the bench but he also made 10 starts.
Miami is acquiring Phoenix's Ryan Anderson in the deal for Tyler Johnson, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 6, 2019
Agent Mark Bartelstein is working with the Suns to waive guard Wayne Ellington and allow him to join a playoff contender, league sources tell ESPN. Ellington is arriving with Tyler Johnson from Miami in the trade for Ryan Anderson.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 6, 2019
Already working with 14 players on the roster, Miami will now have 13 of the maximum 15 roster spots with this deal. They could explore further trades, sign players that will be bought out after the trade deadline or utilize one or both of their 2-way players Yante Maten or Duncan Robinson.
Anderson is making $20.4 million this season and $21.6 million next season. He agreed to reduce his guaranteed salary for the final year to $15.6 million when he was traded by the Houston Rockets to the Suns. Miami can then decide by July 10 to either keep him on the roster for his full salary or waive him and owe him the reduced amount.
Kelly Olynyk has $1.4M in potential bonus money -- $1.0M for playing 1,700 minutes (he’s not on track) and $400K if the Heat make the playoffs. https://t.co/lfdN12PTvw
— Albert Nahmad (@AlbertNahmad) February 6, 2019
This is absolutely brilliant work by the Miami Heat… They drop from $6.3M to just $1.2M over the tax line ($8.0M savings), and put themselves in striking distance of avoiding it altogether, for 2018-19; and turn a $19.2M player option into a $15.6M partial guarantee for 2019-20.
— Albert Nahmad (@AlbertNahmad) February 6, 2019
I quote the Heat as being $1.2M over the luxury tax line but, in practical reality, they’re probably more like $176K over, pending Kelly Olynyk’s $1.0M bonus for playing 1,700 minutes. He needs to average 24+ minutes over Heat’s final 30 games to achieve it.
— Albert Nahmad (@AlbertNahmad) February 6, 2019
Shams Charania of The Athletic first reported that Wayne Ellington is being acquired by the Phoenix Suns.
Here's a strong rotation trade candidate who is part of Miami/Phoenix trade: Heat guard Wayne Ellington is being sent to the Suns, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @WatchStadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 6, 2019
The Miami Heat made it official later today.
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