The Miami Heat announced they acquired Luke Babbitt from the New Orleans Pelicans for cash considerations and a 2018 second-round pick that originally belonged to New Orleans.
The 27-year-old appeared in 47 games for New Orleans last year and averaged 7.0 points and 3.1 rebounds per contest. He also shot 40.4 from three-point range.
Synergy Sports Tech highlighted how good Babbitt was in catch-and-shoot situations:
Synergy Basketball @SynergySSTLuke Babbitt posted an eFG% of 56% on catch and shoot jump shots and 42% on pull up jumpers in the half court last season.
According to Spotrac, he has one more year left on his contract, which will pay him $1.2 million in 2016-17. Considering the kind of money being thrown around this offseason, spending $1.2 million on a three-point specialist should be a worthwhile investment.
Babbitt would be a sensible addition for any playoff contender, and for the Heat, his presence should also help in the event the team declines to match Tyler Johnson's offer sheet from the Brooklyn Nets.
According to The Vertical's Adrian Wojnarowski, the Nets offered Johnson $50 million over four years. Stein shared a few other moves the Heat have executed, which seem to signal they don't intend to re-sign Johnson:
Marc Stein @TheSteinLineLeading up to Tyler Johnson's deadline, Miami signed James Johnson, Wayne Ellington & Heat lifer Udonis Haslem & will soon add Luke Babbitt
The Heat have the third-highest payroll in the league, per Spotrac, so they don't have a lot of wiggle room when it comes to bolstering the squad.
Babbitt should become a solid contributor off the bench for Miami, giving the team some much-needed depth as it looks to get back to the playoffs.
