Miami Trades Chandler For Randolph, #17

The Miami Heat officially announced that they have traded starting PF Tyson Chandler to the Golden State Warriors for big man Zach Randolph and the 17th pick in the draft.

Chandler, 31, averaged 13.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks for the team last season enroute to a 2nd straight championship.

The move came as a surprise to many, especially after Heat GM Parka expressed his desire to keep the team's core intact.

"He's been nothing but great his entire time here," Parka said. "He's a winner, a three-time champion, and just plays winning basketball. The entire organization extends our thanks."

Parka mentioned that dealing him was "an unfortunate necessity", and that retaining him after the season would've been near impossible with the team's finances, especially with an extension needed for young SG Iman Shumpert.

With the team's logjam up front, as well as younger players like Perry Jones III and Spencer Hawes emerging last season, the 31-year-old big man was reportedly the "odd man out".

"He'll be missed for sure," head coach Mike Woodson said. "He was a key piece of our team the past two seasons, and we really wish him nothing but the best."

After initial reports that the team would likely look to move Randolph's $16.5m expiring contract for savings, the team went ahead with the trade instead, with the 13-year veteran expected to suit up for the Heat this season.

"It's a great opportunity for Zach," Parka said. "He's an immensely talented rebounder and bruiser that just hasn't been in the right situation these past couple of years. He's not quite there right now condition-wise, but we look forward to seeing what he can accomplish with our team."

Curious to see how your team will look like next season. Gobert was a nice move and Im sure you know who to get with pick 17.. Wont be suprised if you get a steal at 17..

DennisJ (BOS) wrote:Curious to see how your team will look like next season. Gobert was a nice move and Im sure you know who to get with pick 17.. Wont be suprised if you get a steal at 17..

I think we're pretty much done, outside of re-signing our FA and picking up a couple of role players. Not seeing any drastic moves for the Heat.   

Finances have caught up with the Heat though I think there coulda been a different casualty besides Chandler but you gotta do what you feel you have to.

This reminds me of the Mavs when they let Chandler go which proved to be costly.

I think Splitter and #14 shoulda been the package leaving Miami to gain some cap levity.

Cap casualty or not, it was all worth it to win two titles. Even if you had to get rid of multiple major contributors, it would have all been worth it.

Rizzo (NO) wrote:Cap casualty or not, it was all worth it to win two titles. Even if you had to get rid of multiple major contributors, it would have all been worth it.

This. Although the Heat definitely do need to clear out cap, because teams with space will be circling.

Obviously this move is a step backwards, but it needed to be done. And as everyone else mentioned, those two titles with Chandler were certainly worth the cap issues.

Kevin Durant should have been the cap casualty

Yeah no doubt, op and I have spoken and even one title is worth it as not all of us will win a title or even have an opportunity to compete for one.

Two titles in two years is undoubtedly worth it, just speaking financially Chandler was expiring anyway, Splitter is the one on the hook for 4 more years and he coulda possibly have been the casualty instead of Tyson.

Had the Gobert move not been done and the Chandler move still done maybe Splitter along with #14 & #17 could've been moved for cap levity and a prospect.

As stated though you gotta do what you gotta do and the Heat still are the reigning champs.

At the end of the day, losing a late 1st or 2nd aren't really that big of a deal. Not really that much of a penalty.

The penalty hits when it's time to resign guys to larger contracts, but the Heat are far enough under the hard cap that it won't matter.

Yeah, I feel this will hurt them as Randolph is no Chandler and it's not like the Heat needed help offensively. But, two titles from it so there's no worries and they might nab a half decent young guy with pick 17 I guess.

The reason I kept Splitter over Chandler is that he's younger and on a decent deal.

TBH, I don't think losing Chandler will hurt us much, if at all. Loved what he brought while he was here for sure, but I think Splitter will do just fine in the starting lineup over him. Hated that I couldn't start him until now, especially considering the contract I gave him. He'll get his chance now.

Our starting bigs last season were: Gasol. Chandler. Splitter. Hawes. Jones III. Wright.

That's six starting/semi-starting caliber bigs.

Someone had to go. Wright's on a great deal, Jones III is super young, and Splitter/Hawes I wanted to keep. It was either of the oldies in Gasol or Chandler, but Gasol won't net much value if at all in a S&T, so Chandler had to go, unfortunately.

Just trying to maximize value as much as possible.