NBA Trade Rumors: Analyzing Impact of Potential Mario Chalmers Trade

Mario Chalmers played the role of point guard on LeBron James' Miami Heat teams well, but it looks like his days in South Beach could be numbered.

The Heat are in talks with Memphis about a trade that would send the former Kansas Jayhawk to the Grizzlies, according to ESPN's Marc Stein.

Chalmers has been with the Heat since they acquired him in a 2008 draft-day trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves and started for three years from 2011-13. He began 2014 in the starting lineup until the Heat traded for point guard Goran Dragic.

In four games this season, Chalmers is averaging just 19 minutes per contest to go along with 5.5 points and 3.0 assists per game. He averages just under nine points and four assists for his career.

According to Ethan J. Skolnick of the Miami Herald, Chalmers just recently heard the rumor:

Let's take a deeper look at what a trade would mean for both teams:

Breaking Down the Potential Move

As mentioned, Chalmers has been relegated to backup duties, and for good reason. Dragic came at the trade deadline last year and averaged nearly 17 points and five assists for the Heat in 26 games. His numbers are down a bit through four games in 2015—11.5 points and 5.0 assists—but the team has made it clear he's the starter.

Miami would be losing a solid backup and its only other point guard in the trade. Shooting guard Dwyane Wade is second on the team with 4.8 assists and after Chalmers, no other player even averages two.

By playing him nearly 20 minutes per game, the Heat clearly still consider him important. It's not like they are trying to ship away a guy who is wearing a hole into the bench. If they make this move, they will have to get a point guard in return or look to sign one. Stein said it's possible they could get Memphis backup point guard, Beno Udrih, in the trade.

Udrih is averaging 3.8 assists in nearly 17 minutes per game behind starter Mike Conley Jr. If they were to include him in the deal, Chalmers would slide right in as the backup. The only other point guard to play at all this season for Memphis is Russ Smith, who has seen the floor for 15 minutes in three appearances.

Will the Teams Pull the Trigger?

Udrih is a free agent at the end of the season and is currently making $2.1 million. Chalmers' contract is up at the end of the year as well, but he carries a price tag of $4.3 million.

That favors the Heat in terms of luxury tax and playing younger talent, according to Stein: "The Heat can not only slice their luxury-tax bill if they find a favorable deal for Chalmers, but also ensure that youngsters Tyler Johnson and Josh Richardson continue to be first in line for spot minutes behind the Heat's backcourt starters."

Those would both be benefits to the Heat, but they also would be taking on a 33-year-old in his 12th year in the league. Chalmers is only 29, and signing him to a long-term deal is more appealing than a backup point guard nearing his mid-30s.

It's possible Chalmers isn't happy with his new role and just needs a fresh start. That could be a good thing for Memphis if it were to land him. However, no one representing either team is talking, and as Skolnick reports on his Heat Check blog, there is no guarantee this will happen:

"

[The ESPN report] says that Memphis has "discussed trading" for Chalmers, but doesn't say with whom. With themselves? Or with the Heat directly? Further, it's not clear, if talks with the Heat have occurred, exactly when they occurred. Often, reporters get information -- raising my hand -- that is correct but late. The Heat's financial circumstances haven't really changed, but a change of direction is conceivable. Maybe talks with Memphis were happening. Maybe now they're off. 

"

What we do know is discussions have taken place, and the Grizz can't make this trade straight up, per salary-cap expert Albert Nahmad:

Whenever there is this much talk about a trade, something will likely happen. The question is: What are the exact details, and when? Chalmers' time as a starter in Miami has come to an end, and it looks like his overall playing days have as well.

Any team who trades for him will receive a veteran with an NCAA championship, as well as two NBA titles, on his resume. That is experience any team would like to have in a player.