Oft-injured Heat big man Josh McRoberts has picked up his player option worth $6MM for next season, according to Zach Lowe of ESPN (link via Twitter).
McRoberts, 30, missed most of the 2016/17 campaign due to a stress fracture in his left foot. McRoberts was limited to just 22 games (14 starts) where the 6’10” center posted totals of 4.9 PPG, 3.4 PPG, and 2.3 APG. Injuries have plagued McRoberts for his entire stint in South Beach, as the 10-year NBA veteran appeared in just 81 out of a possible 246 games since signing a a three-year deal with the Heat during the 2014 offseason.
Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel spoke to McRoberts’ agent Mike Conley to discuss the decision to exercise the player option this early.
“He already knew he was opting in,” Conley said. “It’s always been a matter of him being healthy, and he’s healthy now.”
This gives Miami a potential frontcourt option for next season, given that Chris Bosh and the team reportedly agreed to an amicable split earlier today. While Bosh’s issues with blood clots — which resulted in him using blood thinners — makes him an unlikely NBA comeback, the Heat are better off with a healthy McRoberts than without.
The Heat own the 14th overall pick in this year’s NBA Draft and could conceivably draft a big man and utilize the “stretch provision” to waive McRoberts and pay a $2MM annual cap hit over the next three seasons, as Winderman noted. In that case, Miami would have an additional $4MM in cap space this offseason.
Over his career, spanning six teams, McRoberts owns a career totals of 5.4 PPG and 3.9 RPG.
I like Harry Giles for the Heat
He will be available in free agency after the draft.
He’s going in the 13-25 range
Skal barely made it in the first round last year and he was much healthier and had a better season. No team is going to risk drafting Giles in the first round when you can just nab him in the second and not have to give him any guarnteed money.
Lucky are you even following the draft?
Thankfully, you aren’t Pat Riley. He’s an interesting prospect for someone, but the Heat have plenty of other options that make more sense
Mcroberts made the smart move. Take the money, and if you still land in free agency, he gets 6 mil
He was finally playing well this year, but couldnt stay on the court again. He should be stretch provisioned.