Heat announces signing of guard Delon Wright, using pro-rated minimum to add him
The Miami Heat roster is now complete. Guard Delon Wright was officially signed by the Heat on Sunday. Wright had been expected to sign with the Heat for the past two days after he consented to a buyout with the Washington Wizards to become a free agency on Friday. However, he had to clear waivers first. The Heat’s roster now include Wright, bringing their total to 15, players on standard contracts, the NBA’s maximum. The NBA maximum of three players on two-way contracts is also being carried by the Heat.
The Heat would have to let go of a player in order to make room on the roster for another player. The Heat’s only option for adding players for the remainder of the season is through free agency, as the NBA trade deadline on February 8 has passed.
According to a league source, the Heat signed Wright on a pro-rated minimum contract for the remainder of the season rather than using the higher taxpayer mid-level exception. With a $662,000. cap hit, the pro-rated minimum deal is valued around $947,000. The Heat are still below the recently implemented second apron even with Wright’s deal. However, with Wright’s acquisition, the Heat now have to pay a luxury tax bill that is roughly $15 million higher. A pre-waiver salary of more than $12.4 million prevents the Heat from signing free agents this season due to the current salary limit issue. However, because Wright was making $8.2 million this season prior to the buyout, he was free to sign with the Heat.
Wright, 31, averaged 4.1 points, 1.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 39.3 percent from the field and 36.8 percent on 1.2 three-point attempts per game in 33 appearances for the Wizards this season before his buyout. He was used by Washington in a bench role, averaging 13.8 minutes per game. One of the most impressive stats Wright (6-5 and 185 pounds) has produced so far in his ninth NBA season is his 82 total assists to just 11 total turnovers.
Wright has, however, excelled defensively thanks to his ability to force mistakes; this season, he has averaged a career-high 2.8 steals per 36 minutes. Wright has averaged 4.6 deflections per 36 minutes this season, which ranks sixth among players who have participated in at least 20 games.
Wright’s deal will assist in giving the Heat the much-needed depth at a position where injuries are rampant. Guards Josh Richardson (dislocated right shoulder) and Terry Rozier (sprained right knee) both suffered injuries last week and missed the final two games before the break, in addition to Heat guard Dru Smith (knee surgery) missing the entire season.
Dorell Wright, Wright’s older brother, played his first six seasons in the NBA with the Heat after being selected by them in the first round of the 2004 draft. Wright will play for the Heat wearing No. 4. The Heat are off until they resume practice in Miami on Thursday and play the Pelicans in New Orleans on Friday. The NBA is currently in the middle of its All-Star break this season.
