Recently, the Miami Heat ran into a small issue. They didn’t have enough healthy bodies to compete in the improved Eastern Conference. Reserve guard Tyler Johnson and Beno Udrih are out for the remainder of the season and the health of their All-Star forward Chris Bosh is still up in the air.
While these important parts of the rotation heal from some injuries, the Heat made a signing over the weekend to bolster their squad. They signed seven-time All-Star Joe Johnson after he was waived by the Brooklyn Nets.
Signing Johnson put the Heat back over the luxury tax line and with the deadline approaching to get under the tax line, it appears the Heat are getting a little creative. The tax is determined by team salary on the final day of the regular season. They are working on a buyout with Beno Udrih despite the fact he will be out for the remainder of the season and he is still owed $574,535 for the rest of the season.
Following from Shams Charania of The Vertical on Yahoo! Sports.
The Miami Heat are nearing agreement with guard Beno Udrih on a contract buyout to offset the salary and luxury-tax implications of signing Joe Johnson, league sources told The Vertical.
The Heat approached Udrih’s representatives late last week about a possible buyout and discussions progressed over the weekend, sources said. Ultimately, the choice to settle for a buyout or be released outright rests with Udrih.
Miami has also held discussions with free-agent guard Marcus Thornton and could pursue a third point guard behind Goran Dragic and Josh Richardson, sources said.
Udrih just came to Miami in a midseason deal so he is far from a ‘Heat-lifer’, plus the Heat almost traded him before he even suited up for Miami. Him doing Miami a big favor and agreeing to give up a portion of his guaranteed salary would be a little strange. Miami could dip far enough below the tax line to add another player and remain below the tax if Udrih helps out.
The best case scenario would Miami and Udrih agreeing to a buyout and a team like the Philadelphia 76ers, Orlando Magic or Portland Trail Blazers claiming him on waivers. Udrih’s entire $2,170,465 salary would come off their books and Udrih would also be owed the rest of his full salary from any teams yet to hit the salary floor because a waiver claim would mean that buyout agreement becomes voided.
It will be interesting to see what Miami does going forward, especially with a reported interest in adding at least one more player.
