As ESPN’s Zach Lowe recently reported, the Heat and the Kings have engaged in some “vague” trade discussions since July. Today, Michael Scotto of Basketball Insiders fills in some details on those talks, reporting that the two sides have discussed a trade that would send Rudy Gay and Darren Collison to Miami and Goran Dragic to Sacramento.
The Kings appear open to moving Gay, who has expressed some frustration with the franchise and has indicated he’ll opt out and explore the open market next summer. Sources tell Scotto that Sacramento would like to land a starting-caliber point guard in a deal involving Gay, and Dragic would fit that bill. However, the Heat gave up two first-round picks in their previous trade for Dragic, so they may require a more significant return to part with him.
Still, acquiring Gay and Collison would make some sense for the Heat. Gay is a talented scorer who could help make up for the loss of Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in the short term, while Collison could provide some backcourt depth — he likely wouldn’t require as significant a role as Dragic, which could free up some minutes for Miami’s younger players.
Both Gay and Collison will also come off the books in 2017, whereas Dragic has a pricey cap hit through at least the 2018/19 season. Moving Dragic for a pair of expiring contracts would give the Heat much more financial flexibility to go out and pursue top free agents next July.
No deal seems imminent at this point, with Scotto reporting that both teams are “kicking the tires” on the possibility. However, it’s worth keeping an eye on the Heat and Kings as potential trade partners before the 2017 deadline.
Gay is smart. Leave that disaster ASAP. Cousins should also flex his muscles until he’s gone. I hate to say it, but kinda like Dwight Howard did. Get out of there Boogie, go play for a real team in a real city fit for an NBA (or any pro sports) team.
Coming from an unbiased Celtics fan, I feel like the best fit for him would be Portland
If I was Micky Arrison I would consider bottoming out this year. The chances of them even making the playoffs this season is in doubt. Time to rebuild through a stacked draft, especially in a year where it doesn’t appear that any teams will be truly tanking
There are multiple interesting scenarios here, possibly involving the Heat and Rudy Gay. This potential Dragic option would have to include a draft pick from the Kings, in my opinion. In that scenario, assuming they get free of Bosh’s deal, at least for enough time to have that cap space to sign free agents, the Heat would theoretically have somewhere around $58 million to spend in the offseason (with Derrick Williams, Wayne Ellington, and James Johnson coming off the books). I think they have a couple more expiring deals that may bring that total up, and if they can get rid of McRoberts, that would open up another $6 million. That allows them to go into the offseason with a theoretical core of Tyler Johnson, Josh Richardson, Justise Winslow, Hassan Whiteside, their 2017 pick, with all that cap space. Trying to think slightly more realistically than Steph Curry and Kevin Durant, Chris Paul, Paul Milsap, and Gordon Hayward would seem to be pretty nice potential targets. Include the recouped pick they would get from the Kings for a future asset, and all of the sudden, this Heat team is back in a really good looking spot, at least until they get put deep into the luxury tax when someone else grabs Chris Bosh for at least 25 games.
I also think that this deal isnt necessarily punting the season, as much as I was personally looking forward to seeing what Dragic could do this year. Rudy Gay would fill the massive hole they have at the 4, and could potentially replace Luol Deng in that regard, while Darren Collison can give them minutes as that attacking guard that you sort of lose some of by moving Dragic, and Tyler Johnson and Josh Richardson see more responsibility at the lead guard position, with Dion Waiters also seeing minutes as a playmaking guard, as they’ve shown a little bit of so far this preseason.. Obviously, thats a downgrade in some regards, but Rudy Gay really upgrades that 4 spot, and this move would really be all about next year more than anything. WIth that being said, this Heat team sort of looks like it could potentially surprise some people. I still dont think they make the playoffs, but I dont think they’re bad enough to be considered a tanking team….
I do wonder if there is a way to accomplish a Rudy Gay deal without involving Dragic though. I would feel so bad about trading him to Sacramento, of all places. Like, if he is still in Sacramento December 15th, and the situation is still the same, could a deal involving James Johnson, Wayne Ellington, and Josh McRoberts get back Rudy on a few month rental? Johnson returns to Sacramento to take Rudy’s spot at 3/4 positions, Ellington gives them a shooter they need, and McRoberts gives them an interesting option as a playmaking stretch 4/5 in certain lineups, and a guy that could be good for their young, skilled bigs like WCS and Skal to be around, and they still get Ellington and Johnson’s money off the books in their expiring deals. This scenario would be somewhat similar to the first scenario, except obviously, the Heat would have $17 million less in cap space, but they would be guaranteed to have Dragic at the PG spot, whereas the other scenario is reliant on signing Chris Paul or Kyle Lowry on a bigger risk contract than Dragic’s current team friendly one or hoping that Wade is willing to come back, as well as then being able to sign a couple of other big free agent targets. I also think that it would give the Heat a chance to at least compete for a playoff spot this season. Their 2 biggest needs right now are at the 4, and a guy that you can give the ball to at the end of the shot clock, or ask to stop the other team’s 8-0 run with a basket, or give the ball to at the end of the game (I guess right now, that would be Dragic?). I think Rudy Gay at least answers that first need, and gives you at least another option to look to for that 2nd need. Again though, that would be nice, but the primary objective is still next year with the move, so it has a little benefit for both short and longer term. Also, I’d like to see the Heat keep a couple of their young guys at the end of their roster, by making a move like this.
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