The roster for the Miami Heat is now complete. On Sunday, the Heat officially declared guard Delon Wright signed. Wright had agreed to a buyout with the Washington Wizards to become a free agency on Friday, thus his signing with the Heat was anticipated for the past two days. However, he had to clear waivers first. Wright’s signing brings the Heat’s roster up to the 15 players on regular contracts allowed by the NBA. Additionally, the Heat have three players on two-way contracts, which is the NBA maximum.
The Heat would have to let go of a player in order to make room on the roster for another player. The Heat’s only option for adding players for the remainder of the season is through free agency, as the NBA trade deadline on February 8 has passed.
According to a league source, the Heat signed Wright for the remainder of the season using a pro-rated minimum salary rather than the higher taxpayer mid-level exception. The pro-rated minimum contract has a $662,000. cap hit and is valued around $947,000. Wright signed, but the Heat is still below the recently constructed second apron. However, the Heat now have to pay a luxury tax charge of almost $15 million after adding Wright.
The Heat cannot sign free agents this season with pre-waiver salaries of more over $12.4 million due to the current salary cap scenario. However, Wright’s $8.2 million salary from this season prior to the buyout made him eligible to sign with the Heat.
Prior to his buyout, Wright, 31, had 33 appearances for the Wizards this season and averaged 4.1 points, 1.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 39.3 percent from the field and 36.8 percent on 1.2 three-point tries per game. Washington benched him, and he played an average of 13.8 minutes per game. In his sixth NBA season, Wright (6-5 and 185 pounds) has already amassed some outstanding stats, one of which is his ratio of 82 assists to just 11 turnovers. Wright has, however, excelled defensively thanks to his ability to force mistakes; this season, he has averaged a career-high 2.8 steals per 36 minutes. Wright has participated in at least 20 games this season out of those who have.
Wright’s deal will assist in giving the Heat the much-needed depth at a position where injuries are rampant. Guards Josh Richardson (dislocated right shoulder) and Terry Rozier (sprained right knee) both suffered injuries last week and missed the final two games before the break, in addition to Heat guard Dru Smith (knee surgery) missing the entire season. Dorell Wright, Wright’s older brother, played his first six seasons in the NBA with the Heat after being selected by them in the first round of the 2004 draft. Wright will play for the Heat wearing No. 4. The NBA is currently in the midst of its All-Star break this season, so the Heat will be off until they resume practice in Miami on Thursday.
