Veteran power forward Josh McRoberts is reportedly set to stay with the Miami Heat next season amidst trade rumors linking him to different teams this summer.
ESPN reported that despite "speculation in recent months that forward Josh McRoberts might be shopped", the Heat had decided to keep the 29-year-old nine-year pro for the next season as primary backup to Chris Bosh and could also compete for starting minutes with new acquisition Derrick Williams if the All-Star power forward will not be available soon.
According to the report, Miami had advised McRoberts' representatives that the 6-foot-10 Indianapolis native is "part of Miami's plans for the 2016-17 season" and that they have also scheduled his training "ahead of training camp opening in late September".
This means that McRoberts is set to enter the third year of his four-year, $22.6 million deal with the Heat signed in the summer of 2014, which will earn him around $5.8 million next season.
His current contract will expire at the end of the 2017-2018 when he is already 30 years old, earning him $6 million during that final season if he decides to opt in next summer.
Miami has 19 players at the moment which is one below the NBA's allowable limit during training camp but four above the regular season limit.
Fansided indicated that McRoberts had been rumored to be one of the players "on their way out of the franchise" to cut down the roster to 15 players, but the recent developments had definitely put an end to all those rumors.
McRoberts had struggled through injuries during his so far two-season stay in Miami and it might be the reason why speculations had emerged about his impending trade.
He only suited up in a total of 59 games for the Heat since 2014-2015 and had averaged 3.6 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in only 14.2 minutes of playing time per night last season. The report noted that it was "not the production the Heat were hoping to get from McRoberts, so they decided to look into moving him".
But since there are no suitable deals offered for McRoberts, Miami had chosen to keep him for at least one more season.