Heat trade veteran center to Pacers

The deal will have to wait until Sunday, as that’s when Bryant becomes trade-eligible. Indiana will send Miami a second-round pick swap to complete the transaction, according to Charania.

Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald (X links) confirms the news, noting that by dumping Bryant’s salary, the Heat will soon have just 13 players on standard contracts and more financial flexibility to potentially convert a player on a two-way deal to a standard contract — this morning we identified Dru Smith as a possible candidate to be promoted.

Ian Begley of SNY.tv hears the Pacers discussed sending James Wiseman to the Heat in the deal, but he won’t be included in the final version (X link). Wiseman is out for the season after sustaining a torn Achilles tendon on opening night.

The Pacers won’t have to send out matching salary to acquire Bryant, since his contract can be taken on using the minimum salary exception. Since Indiana has an open standard roster spot, the team also won’t need to waive anyone to add Bryant.

According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks (X link), the Heat will save $4.7M toward their project luxury tax payment by moving off Bryant’s $2,087,519 salary. They’ll also create a traded player exception worth the exact amount of Bryant’s outgoing contract. Miami will be approximately $3.7M below the second tax apron once the deal is finalized, Marks adds.

Charania reported a few days ago that Indiana was “actively pursuing” a backup center in the wake of season-ending injuries to Wiseman and fellow big man Isaiah Jackson, who also suffered a torn Achilles tendon this fall. Jake Fischer confirmed that report today, with league sources indicating a deal would likely be completed shortly after Dec. 15, when many players around the NBA become eligible to be traded.

Assuming the trade is completed on Sunday, the Heat will have until Dec. 29 to add a 14th player to their standard roster. The club will also have the ability to add a 15th man while staying below the second apron if it so chooses.

Bryant, 27, is an eight-year veteran, having previously played for the Lakers, Wizards and Nuggets prior to joining Miami. He won a title with Denver in 2023, though his role was very limited. The big man played his college ball with the Indiana Hoosiers from 2015-17.

After being in and out of Miami’s rotation in 2023/24, Bryant’s role fluctuated once again this season, with averages of 4.3 points and 3.2 rebounds in 10 games (11.5 minutes per contest). He re-signed with the Heat on a one-year, minimum-salary deal over the offseason.

Bryant’s one-year deal with the Heat would typically have given him the right to veto a trade, but he agreed to waive that right as part of the contract agreement.