MIAMI PREPARING A BIG TRADE: Jović May Leave Florida, but for Now He Is Protected by the “League Rule Known as the ‘Poison Pill’”!

The Miami Heat have been inconsistent this season and currently do not look like a title “contender,” nor like a team that should be “tanking” — which in the NBA is often described as the worst possible state. Because of that, the legendary Pat Riley, one of the greatest basketball executives of all time, could make major moves by February 5, when the NBA trade deadline closes.

As reported by well-known journalist Sam Amick of The Athletic, Miami is one of the teams interested in Ja Morant from Memphis, one of the best guards in the league. At the same time, this superstar is followed by problems off the court and is therefore considered one of the most controversial players, so whoever acquires him will have to deal with issues that the Grizzlies failed to manage and decided to protect young coach Thomas Isalo, who tried to rein him in.

Nikola Jović could also be involved in this entire story. He has played hot-and-cold for Miami this season, and despite announcements that the franchise wants to keep him in Florida, information has now emerged that they are also interested in including him in a trade if the club from Tennessee wants that.

However, there is one problem that, at least for now, suggests that Nikola Jović is safe in Miami and will not be traded at least until the summer. After that, anything is possible.

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What Is the “Poison Pill” That Protects Jović?

Nikola Jović is currently protected from a trade to Memphis, or any other NBA team, by the so-called “poison pill.” This is the “PPP” (“Poison Pill Provision”) rule, which states that a player who signs a contract extension after a rookie deal can move to a new team only if the new (larger) contract is activated and counted.

This is one of the most complicated rules in the NBA, which in Jović’s specific case means that if he were traded before the new season, his contract would count as $13.3 million on the new team’s books. Currently in Miami, it counts for three times less.

Because of this, since 2008 and Devin Harris, no player with a “poison pill” in his contract has been traded. At that time, Dallas acquired Jason Kidd from New Jersey and sent its young point guard in the opposite direction, when even the Nets did not mind that Harris’ contract would take up more cap space. At the moment, Memphis is unlikely to think that way.

Who Else Wants Morant?

In addition to Miami, “half the league” is interested in Ja Morant’s services, at least according to Sam Amick. Minnesota, Toronto, Brooklyn, the L.A. Clippers, and many others are mentioned, so the Grizzlies will certainly be patient and wait for the best possible offer.

This season, Ja Morant is averaging 19 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 3.2 rebounds per game.