NBA Rumors: Breaking Down Latest Mario Chalmers Trade Buzz
The NBA season is a week old, and yet trade rumors are already swirling as one Western Conference contender seeks to bolster its backcourt with an experienced floor general.
According to ESPN.com's Marc Stein, the Memphis Grizzlies and Miami Heat have engaged in talks revolving around Heat point guard Mario Chalmers. Stein added discussions have largely been preliminary, with "no trade imminent" at this point.
The move appears like a logical one on the surface for the Grizzlies considering Chalmers' deal is set to expire after this season, but the state of both teams' balance sheets complicates things.
Salary-cap expert Albert Nahmad explained the parameters of a potential deal given Miami and Memphis are both over the salary cap:
So how is Chalmers dealing with the rumors?
"It's definitely tough, but I'm built like that ... for tough moments, to deal with things," he said, according to ESPN.com's Michael Wallace.
If Chalmers is ultimately dealt to Memphis, he would figure to slot in as a backup at point guard behind Mike Conley.
Beno Udrih is a savvy operator who sees the floor quite well, but he's generally been most effective as a mid-range jump-shooter. Last season, Udrih hit 55 percent of his shots between 10-16 feet and another 50.3 percent between 16 feet and the three-point line. Conversely, Udrih's converted just under 35 percent of his careers attempts from beyond the arc.
And right now, Memphis needs more floor spacers. Prior to Tuesday night's game with the Sacramento Kings, the Grizzlies hit a putrid 26.9 percent of their threes, with perimeter staples Courtney Lee, Matt Barnes and Vince Carter struggling to find their shots.
So from that standpoint, Chalmers makes sense—assuming he can turn back the clock. Chalmers is shooting just over 36 percent from three for his career, but he's coming off his worst season from range after converting on 29.4 percent of his treys.
Despite those struggles, Miami has good reason to resist the urge to wheel and deal, as the Miami Herald's Ethan J. Skolnick explained:
"While he lacks [Tyler] Johnson's springy legs, his experience and familiarity with the Heat system, and particularly Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, is helpful, especially until Wade and Bosh start to click with Goran Dragic. Chalmers is also a willing spot-up shooter, something the second unit needs, with Josh McRoberts and Justise Winslow shy to launch. He tends to play better with better players, which Miami currently has as compared to last season, so a bounceback season wouldn't surprise.
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Chalmers isn't off to the hottest start, but cutting the cord at this early juncture would leave Miami short-handed at the 1 barring a swap for Udrih. If the Heat are genuinely intent on parting ways with Chalmers, they should have opportunities to do so before the trade deadline.
All stats courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com unless noted otherwise.
