Miami Heat's Mario Chalmers (L) and Chris Andersen. (Photo : Reuters)
Rumors about the Miami Heat planning to trade two of the team's most effective role players during their 2011 to 2014 NBA Finals run, Mario Chalmers and Chris Andersen, had been circulating all summer long and recent reports said that it could culminate once the new NBA season starts this October.
The Heat had been trying to deal Chalmers and Andersen throughout the offseason as team officials look to decrease their luxury tax tab this coming season, but there was no team who made an offer they liked for any of the two players.
Sports World Report indicated that even if trades involving the above-mentioned players are still looming, they would likely be done after the regular season starts on October 27 as Miami wants to take a closer look at their new acquisitions before letting go either or both veterans.
Miami signed second-round pick Josh Richardson last month while they also retained second-year undrafted player Tyler Johnson, both of whom are said to be competing for a roster spot against Chalmers when training camp starts this Tuesday.
In his recent article at the Sun Sentinel, Ira Winderman said that the training camp period and preseason "rarely is a time you see trades" because this is when teams observe and scrutinize their current lineups in "real" games before they decide on which players will go or stay.
Chalmers and Andersen are both in the last year of their $4.3 million and $5 million deals respectively and would provide more depth in an already solid Heat lineup if the team decides to keep them.
However, there were also speculations that several teams could still pursue the two players at the trade deadline in February even if they are not dealt.
