Goran Dragic has been with the Heat for over six seasons, and has played some of the best basketball of his career in Miami. He was arguably the third-best player during the Heat’s run to the Finals last season before a foot injury limited him to two games against the Lakers. But the 35-year-old point guard is coming off an injury-plagued season and owed over $19MM next season.
According to Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, the Heat don’t want to trade Dragic this offseason. But if a deal for a star presents itself, the team would be willing to do so.
We have more news from around the Southeast Division:
- The Heat have traded away both their picks in this year’s draft, but that hasn’t stopped team president Pat Riley for setting the edict to the scouting department to find and secure useful players from the draft, writes Winderman. “We don’t have any picks, but I can guarantee you we’ll probably get a couple of good players out of this year’s draft, somehow,” Riley said at the end of the season. The Heat have a track record of landing productive players like Kendrick Nunn and Duncan Robinson despite scant draft resources. They’ll try to repeat history this year.
- Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald looks at how the Olympics experience could help the Heat‘s Nigerian trio of Gabe Vincent, KZ Okpala and Precious Achiuwa. Team Nigeria has been dominant during exhibition games, but if they don’t make the medal round, it’s possible the three young players will be back in Las Vegas for Summer League, looking to build off the momentum and confidence they’ve gained from this experience.
- Wes Unseld Jr. is not just a familiar name, he’s also an experienced coach who has paid his dues, writes Fred Katz in a piece for The Athletic on the Wizards’ newest head coach. Katz writes that Unseld sold the Wizards based not only on his track record, but also on ideas for how to better utilize star Bradley Beal and last season’s lottery pick Deni Avdija.
- The Hornets are working out six prospects today, per a tweet from the team: Derrick Alston Jr., Ian Dubose, Romeao Ferguson, Ariel Hukporti, Carlik Jones, and Ruot Monyyong. The Hornets have the 56th and 57th picks in the draft, the range in which most of said prospects may be available.
Trade Dragic for the same salary, Heat still have $8 million cap room
If keeping Dragic and Oladipo, Heat has no cap room
Same thing happened to Mavs
If keeping Hardaway, Mavs have no cap room
Heat use the team options of Dragic and Iggy and then trade them for Kevin Love and Windler.
I’m also not a fan of overpaying Duncan Robinson somewhere near the 20 mil mark. He’s a 27 year old shooter, he put up 13-3.5-2 on 44-41-83 percentages. Joe Harris when the Nets overpaid him was better from 3, was better from the field and is a better rebounder.
So I’d also try use a sign and trade in him.
Maybe for Terry Rozier
That gives you something like this for the new season.
1. Rozier. Nunn
2. Oladipo. Herro. Windler
3. Butler. Ariza. Okpala
4. KLove. Achiwura
5. Adebayo. Dedmon
Obviously still have to decide what to go with Oladipo, Nunn, Ariza and Dedmon. Also likely to bring in others in FA and the draft. However I think Love would be a good fit and add to a playoff team trying to make a finals push. Obviously he’s not the same old KLove but if he’s healthy he can still be a shooter, rebounder and good passer. Plus he has playoff experience and could help develop Adebayo, with his different skill set
Maybe try to snag a guy like Millsap. Only thing is Nunn will probably get a good offer elsewhere. Overall like your ideas though. I hope they do something!
Would be a good fallback option for the Heat. KLove I think still has a good season left in him for the right team. He’s not going to be a 20-10 guy but even an efficient 15-7 as a third/fourth option would be handy. Plus playoff experience and outside shooting
No one is giving up anything of value for a 37 year-old Iggy making $15M. Anyone who wants him will wait for Miami to turn down his team option then sign him at or near the minimum.
Wally Cle would jump at THAT deal despite Iggy being useless !
I don’t see Mia slow playing their hands all night then sticking it All in on a Kevin Love flush draw
KLove has no value. Hes an often injured over 30 year old collecting over 30mil a season on a rebuilding team.
It would be a salary dump and one I’m sure the Cavs would very much appreciate taking on Iggy.
As Cap Crunch said it’s probably the best that aren’t so keen. He’s right there is definitely better ways to spend 30mil in cap space but as a last resort I think they would take Love. They are a playoff team, that needs a little more to push them further and Love might not be great but he’s a solid 3/4th option. I think Love would work in the Miami Locke room too with Jimmy and Bam.
Winderman is behind a paywall now darn.
But I am quite sure MIA has a team option on Dragic and do not owe him anything just by declining it.
DuncanR showed he was not a fluke, makes a better decoy than Thomas, and was valued at more than $20m by Hollinger’s system.
Really, the Heat have a history of landing productive players with scant draft assets? Such that Riley can guarantee that they’ll get a couple of good players out of this year’s draft?
Neither DR and Nunn was picked up in the draft (each was signed later on in their post-college basketball odyssey). So, what history is Riley referring to?