Miami Heat’s Meyers Leonard, who made anti-Semitic slur, traded to Oklahoma City

Controversial Meyers Leonard, who was fined and suspended by the NBA for uttering an anti-Semitic slur a week back, is being traded by Miami Heat to Oklahoma City, according to multiple reports Wednesday.

Miami is sending Leonard to the Thunder in exchange for Trevor Ariza, the New York Times and ESPN reported.

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Last month, Leonard suffered a season-ending shoulder surgery, meanwhile, Ariza, a forward, hasn’t played an NBA game in more than a year after opting out of last year’s COVID-19 restart.

The move follows Leonard being fined $50,000 and suspended from all team activities for a week by the NBA last Thursday after saying the slur while playing a live-streamed videogame.

However, Leonard did apologise for his comment, saying he did not know what the word meant.

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Leonard would not be expected to have a role with the Thunder, ESPN reported, but he might be kept through next week’s NBA trade deadline so his contract could be part of a potential deal.

Ditching Leonard’s contract could help Miami financially in bidding to land San Antonio’s LaMarcus Aldridge if the Spurs don’t swing a deal with the player by the March 25 deadline.