That Was Not a Trade

mi HEAT

@MiamiHEAT

OFFICIAL: The Miami HEAT have traded Dewayne Dedmon and a 2028 second round draft pick to the San Antonio Spurs in exchange for cash considerations.

 3:01 PM · Feb 7, 2023·

The “Heat” got nothing back, not even cash. It is termed “for cash considerations” but the “Spurs” aren’t trading or “exchanging” cash with the “Heat” for Dedmon and a 2nd round pick. It’s not a trade, the definition being exchanging things of value. 

The “Heat” are getting measurably below the tax line by dumping Dedmon, that is all. Mickey Arison does not like paying the luxury tax, period; he has done it and would do it for a contender, but for a team that has no chance, nah-ah, nope. 

Folks may be correctly connecting the dots of this gift to San Antonio with a second transaction, this time a true trade, e.g. of Kyle Lowry, or they may not be correctly connecting the dots. Today’s gift stands alone for Arison. It is solely in Arison’s financial interest. It need not be the first of two shoes to drop in the basketball team’s interest.