The HRR NBA Trade Analyses Archive

November 26, 2000

The Detroit Pistons traded F Cedric Ceballos to the Miami Heat in exchange for a conditional second round draft choice.

Note:

• Because the Pistons did not take back any salary for Ceballos, they obtained a trade exception worth nearly $4 M which they can use once before the end of November 26, 2001.
• Ceballos will be a free agent next summer.

2000 - 2001 Player Salary:

Cedric Ceballos, Mia: $3.9 M.

Who got the better of the deal?

Detroit.

Why?

Since the Pistons were able to sign free agent F Joe Smith, Ceballos’ minutes were going to be drastically reduced. Consequently, instead of having Ceballos tied to the bench, Detroit was able to receive some compensation for him in return.

“With the addition of Joe Smith, it became very apparent we needed to make a roster management move,” Pistons President Joe Dumars said. “By making this deal, not only does this give us even more flexibility with the salary cap, it also allows us to receive a trade exception.”

Miami was desperate to utilize their disabled player exception they obtained for Alonzo Mourning’s kidney ailment before it expired at 11 pm on November 26. The Heat failed to find a better deal which would have brought them a bigger front court player to improve the team. Therefore, they shifted their attention to Ceballos.

Miami is next to last in the league in scoring; so, obtaining Ceballos who is a heralded scorer (and little else) should improve their struggling offense.

“We know what he can do, and we also know what the rap is on him,” Heat Coach Pat Riley said. “He has an opportunity at 31 years old to recapture some of that scoring magic. I don't think he's in any way, shape or form on the way down. He just has to get himself in great, great condition and do the things he's done in the past. He's in the prime of his career.”