New Places, New Faces: Danny Granger, Josh McRoberts Sign With Miami Heat
The Players: Danny Granger and Josh McRoberts
The Team: Miami Heat
The Deals: 2 years, $4.2 million for Granger; 4 years, $23 million for McBob
How does it affect the cap situation?
McRoberts is receiving the full mid-level exception amount, meaning the Miami Heat are hard capped at the “apron.” In English, this means that they can not exceed $4 million above the tax level, which is projected to be $77 million for 2014-2015. So, Miami can’t exceed $81 million.
Under the category of “well, duh”, the always great Woj has reported that both players have committed to the Heat with the hope of being teammates with LeBron.
No guarantees made, but Danny Granger/Josh McRoberts committed to Heat w/ strong belief LeBron James will be a teammate, sources tell Yahoo.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 7, 2014
However, if LeBron does leave Miami, things change a bit. They will no longer be able to use the mid-level exception, but they could then simply pay McBob with their cap space.
As far as Granger is concerned, the Heat will fit him in their biannual exception.
It’s tough to make anything out of their cap situation, as it depends so heavily on LeBron, Wade, and Bosh. They currently have $96 million in cap holds, but this will all change as soon as these three make decisions. Everything in terms of their exact cap number is up in the air until and unless the Big Three return.
Still, one thing is clear: if Pat Riley plans on keeping his Big Three around their rumored salaries, acquiring McBob and Granger will probably put the likes of Luol Deng and Trevor Ariza out of reach.
How does it affect the luxury tax?
As stated above, if McRoberts does end up getting the Heat’s MLE, the team can’t exceed the tax level by more than $4 million. Nothing is final just yet, but $77 million is the estimated tax figure. It looks like LeBron will get the max, and while Bosh was initially rumored to settle at significantly less than the max, Houston is pushing his value up by the minute. Throw in whatever is left of Dwyane Wade, and I’m expecting Miami to be in the tax if everyone comes back.
Then again, the Heat have dumped Mike Miller and Joel Anthony in moves that were strictly tax driven. Maybe Micky Arison has realized that he shouldn’t be pinching relative pennies with LeBron on the roster, but I’m sure the Heat will look to avoid the tax if at all possible.
What’s next?
Get on both knees to beg LeBron, then lock Darryl Morey in a closet without his cell phone so he can’t talk to Bosh.
Obviously, bringing back the Big Three is Miami’s next step. Maybe Anthony Morrow is on Riley’s radar, but Sam Amick has reported that the sharp shooter wants to let the market unfold over the next few days.
McBob’s rebounding will be welcomed, and his passing ability will fit in nicely if everyone returns. Granger obviously isn’t anywhere near the player he once was, and his value is most likely as a hybrid power forward floor spacer. If he can pick up Miami’s blitzing defensive schemes, his length should allow him to be good enough on that end of the floor.
