3. Will the Heat Trade Chris Andersen?
On November 10th, the Heat shook up their roster by trading both Mario Chalmers and James Ennis to the Memphis Grizzlies.
Chalmers had been on the trade block since the summer, when it was reported that the Heat were trying to shed salary in an effort to get below the luxury tax line.
Another veteran that has been on the trade block over the past few months is none other than Chris Andersen. Andersen is due to make $5 million in the last year of his contract and has seen sporadic playing time through the first 11 games of the year.
Entering the weekend, “Birdman” has appeared in just two games and is averaging just 6.5 minutes per contest. The last game he appeared in was on November 5th versus the Minnesota Timberwolves.
There has been no indication that Andersen is injured. Quite simply put, he is so low on the depth chart right now that he won’t see much action unless the Heat are involved in a blowout game.
What does this mean for Andersen’s trade value?
Well, it was already low during the summer and you can be assured that it’s even lower a month into the NBA season. If Miami does want to hold on to the 37-year-old veteran for depth purposes, it’s no problem that they’re keeping him stashed on the bench. However, if the team truly does want to continue shedding salary, they’re not doing themselves any favors by not giving Andersen playing time.
Next: Does Goran Dragic Fit in with This Offense?
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